Meta Partners FG to Expand AI Training in Nigeria

Meta has partnered with the Federal Government to expand access to artificial intelligence training in Nigeria through the launch of AI Academy Nigeria.

The initiative, being implemented with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, the 3 Million Technical Talent programme and Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria, is designed to equip developers, entrepreneurs, students and young professionals with practical AI skills.

The academy will focus on three areas: AI skills development, a startup pitchathon and a six-week developer bootcamp.

Meta said the skills development component would provide training in generative AI, prompt engineering, multimodal AI, data analytics and application development using its Llama models.

The courses will be available at no cost through online learning platforms including Coursera, DeepLearning.AI and DataCamp.

The top 100 participants will be eligible for scholarships towards Meta Blueprint certifications and up to $5,000 in advertising credits.

Speaking on the partnership, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the programme would create opportunities for Nigerians to develop practical AI skills.

“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.

He said the initiative would also contribute to the development of Nigeria’s AI ecosystem through public-private partnerships and strengthen the country’s position in Africa’s digital economy.

Beyond training, the programme will provide support for emerging AI startups through a Startup Pitchathon.

Applications for the competition will close on August 21, after which 10 startups will be selected to pitch at GITEX Nigeria on September 3.

Two winning startups will receive $5,000 each in cash funding and $2,000 each in Meta advertising credits.

The winners 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 greater access to training, funding and development platforms would help Nigerian founders and developers build more 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.

Meanwhile, RAIN will deliver the six-week Developer Bootcamp for selected developers and startups.

The bootcamp will provide hands-on training in developing functional AI products and market-ready solutions, with participants receiving technical guidance and access to Meta’s AI experts.

The founder and Chief Executive Officer of RAIN, Olushola Ayoola, said collaboration among stakeholders was essential to building Nigeria’s AI capacity.

“Building Nigeria’s AI capacity requires the kind of coordinated effort we are seeing here,” Ayoola said.

The partnership builds on the Federal Government’s 3MTT programme, which is aimed at developing a pipeline of technically skilled Nigerians for the digital economy.