Firm Launches N15m National AI Competition For Students

A Nigerian indigenous Artificial Intelligence (AI) Startup, Bildup AI, has initiated a nationwide artificial intelligence competition of N15 million prizes.

The initiative consists fully-funded training and a chance for Nigerian students to build real-world AI solutions that could shape the country’s future.

Known as the National AI Career Readiness Challenge, the programme targets secondary school students, school leavers, and 100-level undergraduates across Nigeria in what the organisation called a “generational intervention” to redefine youth skills development.

Bildup AI’s Chief Executive Officer, Chibuike Aguene, who disclosed this on Tuesday, said the challenge was created to confront the growing skills mismatch that leaves millions of young Nigerians unemployable despite years of schooling.

“Most of our young people are being prepared for a world that no longer exists. They are memorizing facts while the world is building algorithms. They are chasing degrees while the world is chasing skills,” he said.

Aguene warned that the world was advancing at a pace far beyond what local education systems are preparing students for, noting that AI is already transforming sectors from healthcare to agriculture.

“Do they know that AI is diagnosing diseases faster than doctors in some rural clinics? That it’s being used to help farmers in Kenya and India predict rainfall and triple their yields? Do they know that the world is not waiting?” he asked.

Aguene cited global assessments by the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, UNESCO and UNICEF, which all highlight the urgent need for African countries to equip young people with future-facing skills.

According to him, the continent is not only battling unemployment but “a talent pipeline collapse,” as businesses increasingly struggle to find workers with the digital competencies needed to innovate and grow.

The CEO further explained that Bildup AI has developed a platform that helps young people “gain clarity about who they are, build capacity along their chosen career path, and master skills 70% faster and 80% cheaper than traditional methods.”

He stressed that the National AI Career Readiness Challenge is designed not just as a programme but as a national movement to democratize AI literacy.

“Every participant will receive a full scholarship covering access to Bildup AI’s career advisory tool, a two-month immersive learning experience that requires only two hours of flexible learning daily, personalised mentorship from AI facilitators and academic advisors, and hands-on project development across health, education, agriculture, tech, finance, energy and more.

“Participants will also compete for N15 million in prizes; ranging from laptops and internships to a N6 million AI laboratory for the winning school,” he said.

Aguene described the initiative as both a technological and social justice intervention.

“This challenge is not just about jobs. It’s about giving every young Nigerian, regardless of background, a fair shot at the future. It’s about breaking the cycle of misaligned education and wasted potential. It’s about turning our greatest liability; youth unemployment into our greatest asset: a generation of AI-literate, purpose-driven, future-ready builders,” he said.

He illustrated the potential impact with examples of what young Nigerians could achieve if given the right tools:

“Imagine a 17-year-old girl in Bauchi building an AI tool to detect malaria early, or a 19-year-old boy in Enugu creating a chatbot that helps farmers access market prices in real time. Imagine a student in Kano designing a model that predicts flood risks, or an 18-year-old girl in Ibadan creating an AI-powered sign language translator for the deaf community. This is not a dream. This is the future we’re building starting today,” Aguene said.

Calling on parents, teachers, policymakers and community leaders to take responsibility for preparing the next generation, he described the challenge as “a turning point for Nigeria.”

Aguene warned that if stakeholders fail to act, the country could lose another generation to confusion, unemployment and wasted potential, saying “you are not too young to lead. You are not too young to build. This is your moment.”

According to him, applications for the fully-funded programme are open until January 20, 2026, and encouraged early registration to increase participants’ chances.