Govt, Meta unveil accelerator programme for innovation
Meta, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, and the National Information Technology Development Agency, has announced the launch of the Llama Impact Accelerator programme aimed at enabling the development of impactful AI solutions in Nigeria.
The eight-month programme is designed to support early-stage startups leveraging open-source Llama models to address key national and regional challenges across four high-priority areas, including agriculture, security & safety, healthcare, and a wildcard category encouraging bold, original applications of AI in any other sector with high impact potential.
With a strong focus on open innovation, the programme includes a six-week incubation phase, where selected teams will receive technical training and mentorship from AI experts and industry leaders, followed by six months of extended support, including access to additional technical resources and opportunities.
“We’re excited to partner with the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy to launch this AI Accelerator in Nigeria, a country with a robust innovation ecosystem,” the Head of Public Policy, Anglophone West Africa at Meta, Sade Dada, said in a statement.
She added, “By making open-source AI more accessible and relevant to local challenges, we aim to enable the development of solutions that can drive national development and are impactful for communities.”
Nigeria’s rapidly growing tech ecosystem and deep pool of AI talent make it an ideal launchpad for scalable, homegrown AI solutions. The Accelerator aims to enable local innovators with cutting-edge tools, infrastructure, and support to build responsibly with open-source LLMs like Meta’s Llama.
“This partnership marks a major step forward in our mission to develop a thriving AI ecosystem in Nigeria. We see AI as a key driver for national development, and this programme by Meta will equip innovators with the right tools and guidance to tackle some of our most pressing issues,” said Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy of Nigeria.
This initiative is part of Meta’s broader commitment to democratising access to responsible AI and supporting local innovation in Nigeria. By working closely with government partners, academia, and civil society, the Accelerator will help foster an inclusive and forward-looking AI community in Nigeria.
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