Meta has partnered with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) to launch AI Academy Nigeria, a programme designed to help Nigerians develop practical artificial intelligence skills and build AI-powered solutions.
The initiative is being delivered through the ministry’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), alongside Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN).
AI Academy Nigeria will focus on developers, startups, students and early-career professionals, giving participants access to AI training, technical support and opportunities to turn their ideas into working products.
The programme has three main tracks: AI Skills Development, an AI Startup Pitchathon and a six-week Developer Bootcamp.
The skills development track will provide courses covering areas such as generative AI, prompt engineering, data analytics and building applications with Meta’s AI models. The courses will be available at no cost through platforms including Coursera, DeepLearning.AI and DataCamp.
The Startup Pitchathon will give early-stage Nigerian startups using Meta’s AI technologies an opportunity to present solutions to real-world problems.
Ten startups will be shortlisted to pitch at GITEX Nigeria on September 3, 2026. Two winners will each receive $5,000 in cash funding and $2,000 in Meta advertising credits. They will also receive an opportunity to represent Nigeria at Meta’s AI Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye, in November.
Applications for the Startup Pitchathon close on August 21, 2026.
The six-week Developer Bootcamp, to be delivered by RAIN, will provide selected developers and startups with hands-on training to build functional AI products and solutions.
The partnership is part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s technology talent pipeline and connect digital skills with employment, entrepreneurship and innovation opportunities.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the initiative would help equip developers, entrepreneurs and young professionals with practical AI skills while creating opportunities for globally competitive startups.
For Meta, the partnership expands its work in supporting AI skills development and innovation in Nigeria, while giving local developers and startups access to training, funding opportunities and a platform to take their ideas beyond the Nigerian market.
With AI adoption growing across businesses and industries, the initiative could help Nigeria build a stronger pool of local talent capable of developing and deploying AI solutions for the domestic and global markets.
