Meta has launched AI Academy Nigeria, a national initiative aimed at strengthening artificial intelligence skills and creating more opportunities for Nigerian developers, startups, students and early-career professionals to build and grow AI-powered solutions.
The programme is being delivered in partnership with the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), under Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), alongside Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN).
A key part of the initiative is the AI Academy Nigeria Pitchathon, which gives Nigerian startups and developers an opportunity to present AI solutions built using Meta’s AI technologies. The programme is expected to provide participants with access to funding, investors and wider opportunities within the technology ecosystem.
Pitchathon Creates Funding and Market Opportunities
The Pitchathon is the first of three tracks under AI Academy Nigeria and is designed for teams with an early-stage AI idea, a working solution or an existing product.
Applications are open to Nigerian developers, startups and teams using Meta’s AI technologies. Through a competitive selection process, 10 of the strongest submissions will be invited to pitch their solutions live at GITEX Nigeria.
The initiative could provide an important boost for early-stage businesses that have promising technology but limited access to funding and industry connections. Beyond the competition itself, shortlisted participants will have an opportunity to meet investors and ecosystem leaders while gaining exposure within Nigeria’s growing technology sector.
The two winning teams will each receive US$5,000 in equity-free funding, meaning they will not have to give up ownership of their businesses in exchange for the funding. They will also receive Meta advertising credits to help them promote their products and reach potential customers.
The winners will further have the opportunity to represent their solutions at Meta’s Regional AI Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye, in November 2026, where they will pitch against startups from across Africa, the Middle East and Türkiye.
Building Practical AI Skills Across Nigeria
Beyond the Pitchathon, AI Academy Nigeria is designed as a broader capacity-building programme that combines startup support, self-paced learning and intensive technical training.
The partnership with 3MTT and NCAIR connects the initiative to Nigeria’s wider efforts to develop digital talent and strengthen the country’s technology sector. RAIN is responsible for delivering the programme alongside Meta and its public-sector partners.
For Nigerian developers and entrepreneurs, the programme offers more than technical training. Participants can gain practical experience, build products using AI technologies and develop connections that could help them move their ideas from early stages into viable businesses.
Applications for the AI Academy Nigeria Pitchathon close on August 21, 2026. Eligible applicants will be reviewed through a competitive selection process, with successful participants contacted for the next stage.
Interested Nigerian startups and developers can apply through the programme’s online application platform: https://lnkd.in/en2fcf_T.
