Meta has partnered with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, and Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN) to expand artificial intelligence skills development and startup innovation in the country.
The partnership will launch AI Academy Nigeria, a national capacity-building programme designed to give developers, startups, students and early-career professionals access to practical AI training, technical resources and opportunities to develop AI-powered products.
The initiative comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to build a domestic pipeline of AI talent and position the country as a leading technology and innovation hub in Africa.
According to the partners, AI Academy Nigeria will combine three programmes, which are AI Skills Development, a Startup Pitchathon and a six-week Developer Bootcamp, to take participants from foundational AI learning to product development and entrepreneurship.
The programme will be delivered through the 3MTT community, allowing participants across Nigeria to access training covering generative AI fundamentals and the development of applications using Meta’s AI models.
Courses will include building generative AI applications with Llama, prompt engineering with Llama 2 and Llama 3, multimodal AI with Llama 3.2, generative AI for data analytics and social media marketing, as well as an AI 101 curriculum.
The courses will be offered at no cost through platforms including Coursera, DeepLearning.AI and DataCamp.
The partners said the top 100 performers will also become eligible for scholarships towards paid Meta Blueprint certifications and up to $5,000 in advertising credits.
A key component of the initiative is the AI Startup Pitchathon, which is targeted at early-stage Nigerian startups using Meta’s AI technologies to solve real-world problems.
Applications for the pitch competition close on August 21, 2026, after which 10 startups will be shortlisted to pitch at GITEX Nigeria on September 3.
Two winning startups 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, Turkiye, scheduled for November 23–24, 2026.
The initiative also includes a six-week Developer Bootcamp to be delivered by RAIN for selected developers and startups.
Participants will receive hands-on technical training and work towards building functional AI products and market-ready solutions, with access to technical guidance and Meta’s AI expert network.
“Through this partnership, we are equipping developers, entrepreneurs, and young professionals with practical AI skills while creating pathways for innovation and globally competitive startups,” said Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.
Sade Dada, head of public policy, Anglophone West Africa at Meta, said Nigeria has some of Africa’s most dynamic AI talent but needs greater access to practical training, funding and platforms to develop solutions.
“AI Academy Nigeria was built to provide exactly that, equipping more Nigerians with the skills to build with AI, while giving the strongest ideas a route from home to a regional stage,” Dada said.
Olushola Ayoola, founder and CEO of RAIN, said building Nigeria’s AI capacity would require coordinated efforts between government, technology companies and ecosystem players.
The partnership reinforces the broader 3MTT mandate of developing Nigeria’s technical talent pipeline while linking skills development with entrepreneurship, product development and opportunities in the digital economy.
The initiative comes as AI adoption accelerates across Nigeria, increasing demand for developers and entrepreneurs capable of building applications tailored to local businesses and social challenges.
Beyond training, the programme is designed to create a pathway from AI education to product development, funding and international exposure, potentially giving Nigerian startups greater access to the growing global AI economy.
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Folake Balogun is a technology journalist covering Africa’s digital economy, with a focus on startups, fintechs, venture capital, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies. Her work explores the intersection of technology, business, and society, highlighting how innovation is reshaping industries and everyday life across Africa and global markets. She translates complex trends into insightful and impactful stories for a wider audience.
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