Meta, FG Launch AI Academy to Expand Artificial Intelligence Training in Nigeria
Meta has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to launch AI Academy Nigeria, a new initiative aimed at expanding access to artificial intelligence training, innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities across the country.
The programme is expected to equip Nigerian developers, entrepreneurs, students and young professionals with practical artificial intelligence skills while creating opportunities for the development of globally competitive technology solutions and startups.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the partnership would strengthen Nigeria’s emerging AI ecosystem by providing participants with practical skills and pathways to innovation.
“Through this partnership, we are equipping developers, entrepreneurs, and young professionals with practical AI skills while creating pathways for innovation and globally competitive startups,” Tijani said in a statement issued on Monday.
The minister added that the initiative would contribute to building Nigeria’s artificial intelligence ecosystem through public-private collaboration while strengthening the country’s position as a leader in Africa’s digital economy.
According to Meta, the AI Academy will provide participants with practical AI training, technical learning and startup support. The programme will be delivered through the ministry’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), in partnership with Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN).
The academy will operate through three major streams: AI skills development, a startup pitchathon and a six-week developer bootcamp.
The training courses will cover areas including building generative AI applications with Llama, prompt engineering, multimodal Llama, generative AI for data analytics and generative AI applications in social media marketing.
Meta said the courses would be delivered free of charge through self-paced online modules and virtual instructor-led sessions on Coursera, DeepLearning.AI and DataCamp.
The company added that the top 100 performers would be eligible for scholarships towards paid Meta Blueprint certifications, as well as up to $5,000 in advertising credits.
Startup pitchathon
As part of the initiative, Meta will also organise a Startup Pitchathon to provide early-stage Nigerian startups using its AI technologies with an opportunity to showcase solutions addressing real-world challenges.
According to the company, applications for the competition will close on August 21, after which 10 startups will be shortlisted to pitch their solutions at GITEX Nigeria on September 3.
Two winning startups will each receive $5,000 in cash funding and $2,000 in advertising credits.
The winners will also receive an all-expenses-paid opportunity to represent Nigeria and pitch at Meta’s AI Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye, on November 23 and 24, the company said.
Meta’s Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa, Sade Dada, said the initiative would give Nigerian founders and developers greater access to practical training, funding and platforms needed to develop impactful AI solutions.
“Nigeria is home to some of Africa’s most dynamic AI talent. What many founders and developers need is greater access to practical training, funding and platforms to build impactful solutions,” Dada said.
She explained that AI Academy Nigeria was designed to equip more Nigerians with the skills required to build with artificial intelligence while creating opportunities for promising ideas to progress from the local to the regional stage.
RAIN to deliver six-week developer bootcamp
Meta said Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN) would deliver an intensive six-week developer bootcamp for a selected cohort of developers and startups.
Participants in the bootcamp will receive hands-on training focused on developing functional AI products and market-ready solutions, alongside technical guidance and access to Meta’s network of AI experts.
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of RAIN, Olushola Ayoola, said collaboration among key stakeholders would be essential to strengthening Nigeria’s artificial intelligence capacity.
“Building Nigeria’s AI capacity requires the kind of coordinated effort we are seeing here. RAIN is proud to partner with Meta, FMCIDE and 3MTT to deliver a programme that reflects the scale of what is possible when the right partners align around a shared goal,” Ayoola said.
Meta said the partnership was designed to connect AI skills development with practical applications, entrepreneurship and emerging opportunities within Nigeria’s digital economy.