The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy has partnered with Meta, the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN) to launch a new Artificial Intelligence Academy aimed at expanding Nigeria’s pool of AI talent and strengthening the country’s technology ecosystem.
The academy will equip participants with practical artificial intelligence skills, technical support and opportunities to develop and commercialise AI-powered solutions.
According to Meta, the initiative will move participants beyond basic AI awareness by providing hands-on training and access to resources needed to build real-world applications.
The programme will feature three major components: AI skills development, an AI Startup Pitchathon and a six-week Developer Bootcamp.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, said the partnership would help equip developers, entrepreneurs and young professionals with practical AI capabilities while creating pathways for innovation and globally competitive startups.
He added that the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to developing Nigeria’s AI ecosystem through public-private partnerships and strengthening the country’s position in Africa’s digital economy.
The AI skills programme will be open to members of the wider 3MTT community, with courses covering generative AI, prompt engineering, multimodal AI, data analytics and application development using Meta’s Llama models.
Participants will have free access to courses delivered through platforms including Coursera, DeepLearning.AI and DataCamp.
The top 100 performers will be eligible for scholarships towards Meta Blueprint certifications, as well as up to $5,000 in advertising credits.
The initiative will also support Nigeria’s growing startup ecosystem through an AI Startup Pitchathon. Applications for the pitchathon close on August 21, with 10 startups expected to be selected 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 at Meta’s AI Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye, in November.
Meta’s Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa, Sade Dada, said Nigeria has some of Africa’s most dynamic AI talent but requires greater access to practical training, funding and platforms to develop impactful solutions.
Meanwhile, the six-week Developer Bootcamp, to be delivered by RAIN, will provide selected developers and startups with intensive hands-on training to develop functional AI products and market-ready solutions.
The participants will also receive technical guidance and access to Meta’s AI experts throughout the programme.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of RAIN, Dr Olushola Ayoola, described the partnership as an important step towards building Nigeria’s AI capabilities, stressing the need for coordinated efforts among government, technology companies and other stakeholders.
The initiative builds on the Federal Government’s 3MTT programme, which seeks to develop a pipeline of technically skilled Nigerians to support the country’s digital economy.
With artificial intelligence increasingly influencing technology development, business productivity and digital innovation, the academy is expected to help expand the number of Nigerian developers capable of building and deploying AI solutions.
The initiative could also help local businesses reduce reliance on imported technical expertise while giving Nigerian startups access to the skills and resources required to compete in regional and global markets.
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