The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Meta and Rise Networks have partnered with technology and civil society organisations to launch the #AI4Elections Hackathon, a national competition using artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen electoral integrity and democratic participation in Nigeria.
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The initiative invites developers, researchers, students, technology entrepreneurs, electoral experts and civic innovators to build practical solutions to challenges including misinformation, cybersecurity threats, electoral data analysis, inclusive civic engagement and citizen accountability.
Rise Networks is spearheading the competition with partners including Google, Microsoft and the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR). It builds on Run-Am, an AI-powered misinformation detection and fact-checking application developed for Nigeria’s 2023 elections.
Focus areas
Participants will develop solutions in five areas:
- Trustworthy electoral information.
- Data-driven decision-making.
- Inclusive and multilingual civic technology.
- Electoral cybersecurity.
- Election observation.
The competition offers a total cash prize pool of ₦10 million, alongside cloud credits, laptops and other technology tools. Promising solutions may receive technical support after the competition.
Who can apply?
Eligible Nigerians aged 18 and above can apply individually or in teams of up to four members. The initiative is nonpartisan and prioritises responsible AI, data privacy, human oversight and compliance with electoral laws.
This is strictly a design-and-development competition. Participants must build working technology solutions; ideas, presentation decks, research papers and wireframes alone are not sufficient. The programme will culminate in a national innovation showcase in Lagos on December 16, 2026.
Applications opened on October 22 and close on November 12, 2026. Applicants should review the official guidelines before submitting their entries.
How to apply
- Visit https://ai4elections.risenetworks.org/application.
- Read the eligibility criteria and competition requirements.
- Apply individually or form a team of up to four members.
- Submit your application and develop a working solution addressing one of the focus areas.
- Ensure your entry meets the design-and-development requirement before the deadline.
Check all official instructions before submitting your completed application.
