Meta, Federal Government launch AI Academy to train Nigeria’s next generation of AI talent
Digitnomics 
Meta has partnered with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), through the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), alongside Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN), to launch AI Academy Nigeria.
The initiative is designed to expand access to practical artificial intelligence skills while creating opportunities for Nigerian developers, startups, students and young professionals to build AI-powered products and take their innovations to the market.
Rather than focusing only on AI theory, the programme combines training, product development and startup support through three major tracks: AI Skills Development, an AI Startup Pitchathon and a six-week Developer Bootcamp.
Startups can win $5,000 and global exposure
A major component of the initiative is the AI Startup Pitchathon, which is targeting early-stage Nigerian startups using Meta’s AI technologies to solve real-world problems.
Applications close on August 21, 2026, with 10 startups expected to be shortlisted to pitch at GITEX Nigeria on September 3.
Two winners will each receive $5,000 in cash funding and $2,000 in Meta advertising credits.
They will also receive an all-expenses-paid opportunity to represent Nigeria and pitch at Meta’s AI Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye, on November 23–24, 2026.
Free AI courses for 3MTT participants
The AI Skills Development stream is open to the wider 3MTT community and offers courses covering generative AI, prompt engineering, data analytics and AI-powered applications.
Courses include:
- Building Generative AI Apps with Llama
- Prompt Engineering with Llama 2 & 3
- Introducing Multimodal Llama 3.2
- Generative AI in Data Analytics
- Generative AI in Social Media Marketing
- AI 101
The courses will be delivered through platforms including Coursera, DeepLearning.AI and DataCamp at no cost to participants.
The top 100 performers will be eligible for scholarships towards paid Meta Blueprint certifications and up to $5,000 in advertising credits.
Six-week bootcamp for developers
RAIN will also deliver a six-week Developer Bootcamp for selected developers and startups.
The intensive programme will focus on hands-on AI development, with participants working towards building functional and market-ready AI products with technical guidance and access to Meta’s network of AI experts.
Speaking on the partnership, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the initiative would equip developers, entrepreneurs and young professionals with practical AI skills while creating pathways for innovation and globally competitive startups.
Meta’s Head of Public Policy, Anglophone West Africa, Sade Dada, said Nigeria already had dynamic AI talent but needed greater access to practical training, funding and platforms to turn ideas into impactful solutions.
The partnership further strengthens Nigeria’s push to build a larger technical talent pipeline and connect digital skills with entrepreneurship, innovation and opportunities in the global digital economy.
For Nigerian developers and startups, the bigger opportunity is clear: AI is moving from something to learn about to something Nigerians are being equipped to build with.
