The National AI Innovation Challenge invites Nigerian researchers, startups, developers, and university teams to build useful solutions with N-ATLAS, Nigeria’s open-source multilingual AI model. The challenge focuses on working products, not ideas alone.
However, N-ATLAS supports Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and Nigerian-accented English. It also includes automatic speech recognition for voice-based services. Therefore, teams can build tools that make digital services more accessible across Nigeria.
National AI Innovation Challenge benefits
The programme offers support at different stages:
- Technical clinics and office hours for all applicants.
- N-ATLAS onboarding support and reference materials.
- University roadshows and ecosystem briefings.
- API credentials and compute credits for shortlisted teams.
- Technical mentorship during the acceleration stage.
- Invitations to the Nigeria AI Innovators Summit.
- Inclusion in the NITDA AI talent registry.
- Priority consideration for government AI pilots.
Also, winners in the academic track may receive research-lab partnership opportunities, co-contributor credit, publication support, and national researcher-registry inclusion. Meanwhile, innovation-track winners may receive incubation support, investor introductions, government procurement pathway review, and startup-directory inclusion.
National AI Innovation Challenge tracks
Applicants must choose one problem statement:
- Developer Infrastructure: Build SDKs, testing playgrounds, fine-tuning kits, documentation, or other tools that help developers use N-ATLAS.
- Voice-First Access: Create voice services for education, agriculture, health, civic information, or financial literacy.
- Sectoral Fine-Tuning: Adapt N-ATLAS for education, healthcare, agriculture, legal services, or financial inclusion.
Every project must use N-ATLAS directly. Solutions that only wrap another general-purpose AI model will not qualify.
Who can apply for the National AI Innovation Challenge?
The challenge has two participation tracks:
| Track | Eligible applicants | Team requirements |
| Academia and Research | University teams, research labs, postgraduates, and faculty | Two to five members, including an enrolled student or postgraduate researcher, a faculty supervisor, and an institutional endorsement letter |
| Innovation and Enterprise | Startups, technology firms, social enterprises, developers, and innovation hubs | Two to five members; companies need a CAC certificate, while individual applicants need valid ID |
However, all team members must be Nigerian citizens or registered Nigerian entities. Diaspora teams may apply if at least 50% of members are based in Nigeria.
Furthermore, individual applicants in the Innovation and Enterprise track must be at least 18 years old. In addition, each team can submit to only one problem statement.
Build requirements
This is a build-only challenge. Therefore, teams must submit:
- A working application, software tool, dataset, model, API, or other technical artefact.
- Evidence of direct N-ATLAS integration.
- Real-world testing with users, data, or benchmarks.
- Technical setup and usage documentation.
- A three- to five-minute demonstration video.
- Team profiles and roles.
- An endorsement letter, CAC certificate, or valid ID, depending on the track.
Also, for validation, developer-infrastructure teams need at least two external beta testers. Voice-first projects need at least 50 documented real-user interactions. Sectoral fine-tuning projects must benchmark at least 500 examples against the base model.
Selection criteria
A multidisciplinary panel will assess:
- The quality and technical strength of the working build.
- Depth of N-ATLAS integration.
- Evidence of real-world validation.
- Social, economic, or ecosystem impact.
- Scalability and long-term sustainability.
- Team expertise and delivery ability.
Strong applications should show a useful problem, a functioning solution, and credible evidence that people can use it.
Key dates
- Applications open: September 22, 2026.
- Submission deadline: October 12, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. WAT.
- N-ATLAS integration check: October 15–17, 2026.
- Shortlist notifications: October 16–20, 2026.
- Mentorship phase: October 25–November 4, 2026.
- Digital Nigeria Showcase: November 8–10, 2026.
Teams can also explore more grants and innovation opportunities on OpportunityLab
How to apply for the National AI Innovation Challenge
Before submitting, test your solution, document its N-ATLAS integration, and prepare clear proof of real-world validation. Late applications will not be accepted.
Academic teams should apply through the Academia and Research application form.
Startups, companies, and independent developers should use the Innovation and Enterprise application form.
