Meta has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to expand access to artificial intelligence training and startup opportunities for Nigerian developers, founders and young technology professionals.
The partnership, announced under the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, will introduce AI Academy Nigeria, a national initiative focused on moving participants beyond basic AI knowledge towards developing practical applications and businesses.
The programme is being implemented with the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) and Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN).
A key part of the initiative is a Startup Pitchathon targeted at early-stage Nigerian startups building solutions with Meta’s AI technologies. Applications close on August 21, 2026, after which 10 startups will be selected to pitch at GITEX Nigeria on September 3.
Two winners will receive $5,000 each in cash, alongside $2,000 in Meta advertising credits. They will also have the opportunity to represent Nigeria at Meta’s AI Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye, in November.
Beyond the startup competition, the initiative will provide members of the 3MTT community with free access to AI courses through platforms including Coursera, DeepLearning.AI and DataCamp.
The training will cover areas such as generative AI, prompt engineering, multimodal AI, data analytics and building applications with Meta’s Llama models.
The initiative will also reward the strongest performers, with the top 100 participants eligible for scholarships towards paid Meta Blueprint certifications and up to $5,000 in advertising credits.
The programme is also introducing a six-week Developer Bootcamp, to be delivered by RAIN, for a selected group of developers and startups. Participants will receive hands-on technical support as they develop AI-powered products and prepare them for potential market deployment.
The initiative comes as Nigeria seeks to expand its pool of technical talent and build stronger links between digital skills, entrepreneurship and technology-driven businesses.
Bosun Tijani,minister of communications, innovation and digital economy, said the partnership would help create practical pathways for Nigerians to develop AI skills and build globally competitive startups.
“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.
Sade Dada, head of public policy, Anglophone West Africa at Meta, said the company was seeking to address the gap between Nigeria’s growing AI talent and the resources required to turn ideas into viable solutions.
“Nigeria is home to some of Africa’s most dynamic AI talent,” Dada said, noting that founders and developers needed greater access to practical training, funding and platforms to develop their ideas.
Olushola Ayoola, founder and CEO of RAIN, said the collaboration demonstrated the importance of coordinated efforts in developing Nigeria’s AI ecosystem.
The initiative is expected to strengthen the link between AI skills development, product creation and entrepreneurship, while giving participants access to funding, certification and international exposure.
