NITDA National AI Innovation Challenge 2026: Call for Applications

NITDA National AI Innovation Challenge 2026 Abstract & Quick Facts

Host: National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) x National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR)
Host Country:  Nigeria
Category: Competitions  
Benefits: Full Sponsorship• Research Grants• Technical Support• Networking & Mentorship
Eligibility: Students and Researchers in Nigeria
Deadline: October 12, 2026

NITDA National AI Innovation Challenge 2026 Details

The National AI Innovation Challenge is designed to deepen the technical development, adoption and practical use of Nigeria’s sovereign AI capabilities.

At the centre is N-ATLAS (Nigerian Atlas for Languages and AI at Scale), Nigeria’s first open-source, multilingual large language model. Fine-tuned from Llama-3 8B, it supports Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo and Nigerian-accented English, with Automatic Speech Recognition for voice applications.

The challenge directs Nigerian talent towards building developer tools, voice-first applications, and sector-specific AI solutions on N-ATLAS.

NITDA National AI Innovation Challenge Benefits

For all applicants

Technical Support

• Technical clinics and office hours
• N-ATLAS onboarding support
• Technical resources and reference materials
• University roadshows
• Ecosystem briefings

For shortlisted teams

Acceleration Support

• N-ATLAS API credentials
• Compute credits through partner infrastructure
• Technical mentorship during acceleration phase
• Support to strengthen and harden builds
• Invitations to Nigeria AI Innovators Summit
• Inclusion in NITDA AI talent registry
• Priority consideration for government AI pilots

For winners

Recognition & Opportunities

ACADEMIA & RESEARCH

• NCAIR research-lab partnership
• N-ATLAS co-contributor credit
• Federal Government recognition
• Publication and model-card support
• National AI researcher registry inclusion

INNOVATION & ENTERPRISE

• Government procurement pathway review
• ONDI incubation support
• Investor introductions
• N-ATLAS API integration support
• National AI startup directory inclusion

NITDA National AI Innovation Challenge Requirements

To be considered for the 2026 award, applicants must satisfy the following criteria:

General Requirements

• All team members must be Nigerian citizens or registered Nigerian entities
• Submission must be original work not previously awarded in another competition
• Each team may submit to only one problem statement
• Every submission must include a functioning technical artefact integrated with N-ATLAS
• Applications and supporting materials must be in English

Academia & Research

• Team lead enrolled in or employed by an accredited Nigerian university or research institution
• Institutional endorsement letter signed by Head of Department or equivalent

Innovation & Enterprise

• Individual applicants must be Nigerian citizens aged 18 or above
• Company applicants must be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission
• Diaspora teams must have at least 50% of members based in Nigeria

Required Documents for NITDA National AI Innovation Challenge

To complete your application, prepare the following documents in advance:

• Working artefact
• N-ATLAS integration evidence
• Real-world validation
• Technical documentation
• 3–5 minute video
• Team profile
• Endorsement/registration evidence

How To Apply for NITDA National AI Innovation Challenge 2026

The step-by-step guide to apply for the NITDA National AI Innovation Challenge is as follows;

• Visit the official application portal (Click the link below).
• Submit your application by the deadline.

Application Deadline: October 12, 2026

• For more scholarship updates, Click HERE.
• Google: Scholars World Updates
• Phone: +234 705 105 6718 (WhatsApp only)
• Email: [email protected]
• Facebook: facebook.com/ngscholarsworld
• Twitter: twitter.com/ngscholarsworld
• Telegram: t.co/ngscholarsworld