Nigerian students can now learn AI and pitch startups via Meta's new academy

Meta has partnered with Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE) to launch AI Academy Nigeria, a national programme that will train developers, students and early-career professionals in artificial intelligence and support AI startups through a pitch competition.

The partnership runs through the ministry's 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), alongside Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Nigeria (RAIN), a local AI and robotics training organisation, according to Techbuild Africa.

AI Academy Nigeria is structured around three streams: AI Skills Development, a Startup Pitchathon, and an intensive Developer Bootcamp. Participants will get practical AI learning, hands-on technical training and startup support, with the goal of moving them from learning AI concepts to building functional products and solutions.

The Startup Pitchathon is open for applications until 21 August 2026, with interested startups able to apply through a dedicated portal at aiacademynigerialaunch.splashthat.com.

The launch builds on Meta's existing AI training footprint in Nigeria. RAIN previously implemented the Meta AI Developer Academy Nigeria 2025, which reported over 200 trainees in public communications. The new academy also sits within a broader federal push to position Nigeria as an AI talent and innovation hub.

3MTT, the government vehicle carrying the partnership on the ministry side, aims to train 3 million technical talents within four years. Over 1 million Nigerians applied for the inaugural cohort, from which 30,000 fellows were selected in December 2023. A second phase is planned to train an additional 270,000 talents in cohorts of 60,000, 90,000 and 120,000, according to AI Discoveries.

The academy joins other government-led AI initiatives, including an AI Research Initiative under 3MTT offering up to ₦5 million in grants per AI research or startup consortium, and the DeepTech_Ready Upskilling Program, which aims to train 20,000 young Nigerians in AI and data science with roughly ₦2.8 billion in funding tied to Google's $5.8 million Africa digital transformation investment, as reported by We Are Tech Africa.

A National Digital Training Academy has also been announced as a collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Education and FMCIDE through 3MTT, focused on advanced training and internationally recognised certifications in AI and other emerging technologies, National Wire reported.

What remains unclear is the exact funding split between Meta and the government for AI Academy Nigeria, whether the programme will run as a permanent institution or a time-bound cohort model beyond the August 2026 pitchathon deadline, and which specific executives or officials are driving the initiative — no named individual has been publicly identified in available materials.