Meta, FG launch AI Academy to expand access to artificial intelligence training
Meta has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to launch AI Academy Nigeria, a programme aimed at expanding access to artificial intelligence skills and supporting innovation among Nigerians.
The initiative will provide developers, entrepreneurs, students and young professionals with practical AI training, technical learning opportunities and startup support.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the partnership would equip Nigerians with practical skills while creating opportunities for innovation and the development of globally competitive startups.
He said the initiative would also strengthen Nigeria’s AI ecosystem through public-private collaboration and help position the country as a leader in Africa’s digital economy.
According to Meta, the programme will be implemented through the ministry’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), in partnership with Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN).
AI Academy Nigeria will operate through three major streams: AI skills development, a startup pitchathon and a six-week developer bootcamp.
The training will cover areas including building generative AI applications with Llama, prompt engineering, multimodal Llama, generative AI for data analytics and generative AI for social media marketing.
Meta said the courses would be offered free of charge through self-paced online modules and virtual instructor-led sessions on Coursera, DeepLearning.AI and DataCamp.
The top 100 participants will also be eligible for scholarships towards paid Meta Blueprint certifications and up to $5,000 in advertising credits.
Startup pitchathon
Meta said its Startup Pitchathon would provide early-stage Nigerian startups using its AI technologies with an opportunity to showcase solutions to real-world challenges.
Applications for the competition will close on August 21, while 10 startups will subsequently be shortlisted to pitch 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, scheduled for November 23 and 24.
Sade Dada, Meta’s head of public policy for Anglophone West Africa, said Nigerian founders and developers needed greater access to practical training, funding and platforms to develop AI solutions.
She said AI Academy Nigeria was designed to equip more Nigerians with AI skills while helping promising ideas progress from the local to the regional stage.
RAIN to lead developer bootcamp
Meta said RAIN would deliver an intensive six-week developer bootcamp for selected developers and startups.
Participants 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.
Olushola Ayoola, RAIN’s founder and chief executive officer, said collaboration among stakeholders was essential to strengthening Nigeria’s AI capacity.
He said RAIN was proud to partner with Meta, the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and 3MTT to deliver a programme capable of demonstrating what could be achieved through coordinated efforts.
Meta said the partnership would connect AI skills development with practical applications, entrepreneurship and opportunities within Nigeria’s digital economy.
