Bildup AI has introduced a nationwide artificial intelligence competition that offers N15 million in prizes, fully funded training opportunities and a platform for Nigerian students to develop real-world AI solutions that could influence the country’s future. The initiative, called the National AI Career Readiness Challenge, targets secondary school students, school leavers and 100-level undergraduates across the country. The organisation described it as a generational intervention aimed at redefining youth skill development and addressing gaps in the current education system.
Announcing the programme, Bildup AI’s Chief Executive Officer, Chibuike Aguene, said the challenge was developed to confront the growing skills mismatch that has left many young Nigerians unemployable even after several years of schooling. He said, “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.” Aguene noted that global educational structures are not advancing at the same pace as the rapid technological changes shaping industries worldwide.
He added that artificial intelligence is already transforming key sectors such as healthcare and agriculture. He asked, “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?” Aguene referenced evaluations from the World Bank, World Economic Forum, UNESCO and UNICEF, which all emphasise the urgent need for African nations to equip their youth with future-oriented skills.
According to him, the continent is facing not only unemployment challenges but “a talent pipeline collapse,” with many businesses struggling to find workers possessing the digital competencies needed to innovate and expand. He explained that Bildup AI has created a platform that helps young people gain clarity about their strengths, build capacity within their chosen career paths and master skills at a pace that is 70 percent faster and 80 percent cheaper than traditional learning methods.
Aguene stressed that the National AI Career Readiness Challenge is structured as a movement rather than a standalone programme, with the goal of democratizing AI literacy nationwide. He said every participant will receive a full scholarship that covers access to Bildup AI’s career advisory tool, a two-month immersive learning experience requiring only two hours of flexible daily study, personalised mentorship from AI facilitators and academic advisors, and practical project development across fields including health, education, agriculture, tech, finance and energy. Participants will also compete for N15 million in prizes such as laptops, internships and a N6 million AI laboratory for the winning school.
Describing the initiative as a technological and social justice intervention, Aguene said, “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 shared examples of what Nigerian youths could accomplish with proper support. “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 called on parents, teachers, policymakers and community leaders to take responsibility for preparing the next generation, describing the challenge as “a turning point for Nigeria.” He warned that failure to act could result in the country losing another generation to confusion and wasted potential. Addressing young Nigerians directly, he said, “You are not too young to lead. You are not too young to build. This is your moment.”
Applications for the fully funded programme are currently open until January 20, and Bildup AI is encouraging early registration to increase participants’ chances.
