By JKNewsMedia
PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN global tech firm Meta and the federal government has unveiled the Llama Impact Accelerator, an eight-month artificial intelligence initiative aimed at empowering Nigerian startups tackling national development challenges.
The programme, formally announced on Monday, is a joint execution with the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy (FMCIDE), the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Startups applying Meta’s open-source Llama models are invited to build AI-driven solutions in agriculture, healthcare, security and safety, alongside a wildcard category covering other critical sectors.
Selected innovators will begin with a six-week incubation period offering mentorship and technical training from AI professionals and leading industry experts.
This will transition into six additional months of hands-on development support, resource access, and scaling opportunities.
Sade Dada, Meta’s head of public policy for Anglophone West Africa, reaffirmed the company’s focus on inclusive innovation through collaborative action.
She stated that enhancing local access to AI tools can help generate solutions with lasting community impact.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, commended the initiative as a timely investment in Nigeria’s AI landscape.
He said the accelerator aligns with national goals to equip local innovators with practical capabilities to solve pressing societal issues.
Applications, via this link: https://llamaimpactssa.splashthat.com/ remain open until 27 June 2025, with Nigerian startups encouraged to apply and contribute to shaping the country’s AI future.
