Nigeria plans Meta-backed AI academy with training and startup pitch competition

The Federal Government and Meta partner to launch an AI academy, expanding Nigeria’s AI talent pool and strengthening its tech ecosystem. Read More: https://punchng.com/fg-meta-plan-ai-academy-to-boost-nigerias-tech-talent/

The Federal Government, in collaboration with Meta, the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, and Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN), has unveiled a new Artificial Intelligence Academy designed to expand Nigeria’s AI talent base and accelerate the country’s digital economy.Announcing the initiative, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the academy would provide developers, entrepreneurs, and young professionals with practical AI skills while creating pathways for globally competitive startups. “This partnership reflects our commitment to building Nigeria’s AI ecosystem through public-private collaboration,” Tijani noted.The academy will feature three core components:AI Skills Development: Courses on generative AI, prompt engineering, multimodal AI, data analytics, and application development using Meta’s Llama models. Training will be delivered via Coursera, DeepLearning.AI, and DataCamp at no cost. Top performers will receive Meta Blueprint scholarships and up to $5,000 in advertising credits.Startup Pitchathon: Ten startups will be selected to pitch at GITEX Nigeria on September 3. Two winners will each secure $5,000 in funding, $2,000 in Meta ad credits, and an all-expenses-paid trip to represent Nigeria at Meta’s AI Summit in Istanbul this November.Developer Bootcamp: A six-week intensive programme led by RAIN, offering hands-on training, technical guidance, and direct access to Meta’s AI experts to help startups build market-ready solutions.Meta’s Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa, Sade Dada, emphasized Nigeria’s potential: “Nigeria is home to some of Africa’s most dynamic AI talent. What many founders and developers need is greater access to practical training, funding, and platforms to build impactful solutions.”Dr Olushola Ayoola, CEO of RAIN, added that the initiative highlights the importance of coordinated efforts in building Nigeria’s AI capacity. The academy builds on the Federal Government’s 3MTT programme, which aims to develop a pipeline of technically skilled Nigerians for the digital economy.The push comes as artificial intelligence increasingly shapes technology development, business productivity, and digital innovation. By equipping local developers with advanced AI skills, the initiative seeks to reduce reliance on imported expertise and position Nigerian startups to compete regionally and globally.