The federal government, through the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has initiated several programs aimed at nurturing tech talents and fostering innovation. Among these initiatives is a remarkable opportunity for Nigerian youths to participate in a training program in the United States, announced by Titilope Gbadamosi, Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on youth initiatives, via social media.

The Opportunity

The NITDA training program presents a golden chance for Nigerian startups to vie for a substantial prize of $220,000 (equivalent to N330 million) and an all-expenses-paid training experience in Silicon Valley, USA. The agency is seeking tech startups capable of conceiving groundbreaking, tech-enabled solutions to address various societal challenges.

Application Details

Interested applicants have until March 23, 2024, to submit their applications via nsia-ip.com. This opportunity promises significant financial rewards and opens doors to invaluable learning experiences and networking opportunities in the heart of the global tech industry.

Federal Government’s Commitment to Technological Empowerment

This initiative is inline with the broader vision of the Federal Government to equip Nigerian youths with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in the digital age. The Minister of Communications, Innovations, and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, recently announced plans to train 270,000 Nigerians in various tech skills within the next 18 months.

Programme Stages

This programme has for stages. They are:

Pre-selection Stage

Innovators submit their applications through the application portal to provide details regarding their digital products/services and business models.

Accelerator Stage

The top 100 finalists will participate in a one-month virtual training, followed by an in-person boot camp for the top 25 finalists.
A mini demo day will be held to select the top 10 finalists that will proceed to the demo day.

Demo Day

Each of the 10 finalists will be allotted timeslot to present their pitch to the judges.
The judging panel will review the submission and rank the winners from 1st to 10th.
The event will be attended by a combination of local and foreign technology industry experts and investors.

Post Demo Day

The top 10 finalists will participate in an all-expense-paid, 5-weeks in-person training program at a top-rated US university in Silicon Valley.
They will also have an opportunity to pitch to angel investors to secure additional funding and obtain global exposure.

Prizes to be Won

1st Place Winner: up to $3 million
2nd Place Winner: up to $2 million
3rd Place Winner: up to $1 million

Read more to see the application link and how to apply https://microblog.com.ng/link-how-to-apply-for-the-n330-million-tech-training-in-us-for-nigerians/