Meta and Nigeria’s federal government launched an AI training initiative on Monday aimed at building the country’s artificial intelligence talent pool, with top-performing startups eligible for equity-free cash funding.
AI Academy Nigeria runs through three tracks: an AI Skills Development programme open to Nigeria’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) community, a six-week Developer Bootcamp, and a Startup Pitchathon for early-stage companies building with Meta’s AI technologies. The initiative is delivered in partnership with 3MTT, the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, and Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN), under Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE).
Applications for the Pitchathon close on August 21, after which 10 shortlisted startups will pitch live at GITEX Nigeria on September 3. Two winners will each receive $5,000 in equity-free cash funding and $2,000 in Meta advertising credits, along with an all-expenses-paid trip to pitch at Meta’s regional AI Summit in Istanbul on November 23-24.
Under the skills track, free courses delivered via Coursera, DeepLearning.AI and DataCamp will cover generative AI fundamentals and building applications with Meta’s Llama models. The top 100 performers will be eligible for scholarships toward paid Meta Blueprint certifications and up to $5,000 in additional advertising credits.
Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Minister Bosun Tijani said the partnership would equip Nigerian developers, entrepreneurs and young professionals with practical AI skills and create pathways for globally competitive startups. Sade Dada, Meta’s head of public policy for Anglophone West Africa, said Nigeria already had strong AI talent but needed greater access to training, funding and platforms to help innovators turn ideas into products.
The launch follows a May partnership between the Nigerian government and Meta on GovGuide Nigeria, an AI-powered multilingual chatbot designed to help citizens access government services.
