Lagos State has opened registration for a free artificial intelligence training programme designed to equip 10,000 young residents with practical digital skills for employment, entrepreneurship and business development.
The initiative, known as the EkoAI Academy, is being implemented by the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) through Lagos Innovates, in partnership with InnoPower Africa. It is intended to make artificial intelligence more accessible to young people who want to improve their career prospects or use digital tools to grow their businesses.
According to the programme’s official website, the academy is targeting Lagos residents aged 18 to 40 and does not require participants to have coding experience or a technical background.
The programme focuses on practical applications of artificial intelligence, including prompt engineering, workplace productivity, job preparation, customer engagement and business operations.
The registration announcement was highlighted on October 10, 2026, by Nigeria Startup Act’s news platform, while the EkoAI Academy’s official website confirms that enrolment is open.
The initiative comes as artificial intelligence tools increasingly influence how businesses communicate with customers, prepare documents, analyse information, market products and organise daily work.
For young Nigerians facing a competitive employment market, the programme could provide an opportunity to develop skills in a growing area of the digital economy without paying conventional training fees.
Sources: EkoAI Academy official website; Nigeria Startup Act report, October 10, 2026.
What the EkoAI Academy Is Designed to Achieve
The EkoAI Academy is structured around a straightforward objective: to teach participants how to use existing artificial intelligence tools to solve practical problems rather than requiring every learner to become a software developer.
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to generate written content, organise information, support research, prepare presentations, assist with customer service and automate parts of routine business activities.
However, access to these tools does not automatically translate into useful skills. People need to understand how to give clear instructions, assess the quality of AI-generated responses and apply the results appropriately.
The academy places particular emphasis on prompt engineering, which involves writing instructions that help AI systems produce relevant and useful results.
For example, a job seeker might use an AI tool to improve a curriculum vitae, practise interview questions or organise a job-search plan. A small-business owner might use the same technology to draft product descriptions, plan social media content, prepare customer messages or develop a basic marketing strategy.
The programme is intended to help participants apply these capabilities in real situations.
Its approach also reflects a broader shift in technology education. While advanced software development and machine learning remain important technical fields, many workers can benefit from learning how to use AI tools effectively in their existing occupations.
For Lagos residents who have limited exposure to digital technology, this could provide an entry point into AI-assisted work without the initial burden of learning programming languages.
Ten Thousand Learners Through a Train-the-Trainer Model
One of the programme’s central features is its plan to reach 10,000 young people through a network of 100 certified trainers.
Under the structure outlined by the academy, the trainers will receive advanced instruction before taking the learning programme into their communities. Each trainer is expected to guide approximately 100 learners.
This model is intended to extend the programme beyond a single training venue and make instruction available to people in different parts of Lagos State.
Instead of requiring thousands of learners to attend one central location, the approach distributes training responsibilities among certified facilitators who can work with participants within their communities.
The model could also help learners receive more direct guidance as they practise using AI tools. Participants who encounter difficulties with prompts, applications or practical assignments may benefit from instruction that allows them to ask questions and work through examples.
The official academy website identifies 100 certified trainers and a target of 10,000 learners as the programme’s principal delivery structure.
The planned scale, however, will depend on implementation. Reaching 10,000 people requires more than announcing an enrolment target; it also requires successful registration, sufficient trainers, appropriate learning materials, reliable access to devices and internet connectivity, and a process for monitoring participants’ progress.
The effectiveness of the model will ultimately be measured by how many learners complete the training and demonstrate that they can apply their new skills.
Source: EkoAI Academy — programme structure and training details.
Two Learning Tracks for Different Needs
The academy provides two main learning tracks: one for job seekers and another for people interested in entrepreneurship.
Job Seeker Track
The job-seeker pathway is designed to help participants use AI to strengthen their employment prospects.
Learners are expected to explore ways to improve job applications, prepare for interviews and develop digital capabilities that can support their search for work.
AI tools can help users organise information from a job description, identify relevant experience for a CV and practise responses to common interview questions. They can also assist with drafting professional emails and preparing for workplace assignments.
These tools nevertheless require careful use. Applicants must check generated information for accuracy and ensure that their applications reflect their actual qualifications and experience.
AI-generated documents should not be treated as a substitute for genuine professional competence. Employers may still assess applicants through interviews, practical exercises, work samples and other selection processes.
The value of training lies in helping job seekers use technology to present their abilities more effectively, improve productivity and prepare for employment opportunities.
For young people who are unfamiliar with AI applications, structured instruction could help them move beyond occasional experimentation towards more purposeful use.
Entrepreneurship Track
The entrepreneurship pathway is aimed at people who want to establish or grow a business.
Small businesses frequently operate with limited staff and resources. Owners may have to manage marketing, customer communication, sales, administration and planning themselves.
AI applications can assist with some of these activities by helping business owners develop promotional ideas, draft product descriptions, prepare frequently asked questions, organise customer feedback and plan content for digital platforms.
A fashion seller, for example, could use an AI assistant to develop descriptions for new products. A food business might use it to prepare a weekly promotional calendar, while a consultant could use it to outline a proposal before reviewing and adapting the document.
Such uses can save time, but they do not eliminate the need for human judgement. Business owners must check information, protect confidential customer data and ensure that AI-generated messages accurately represent their products and services.
The academy’s entrepreneurship track is intended to introduce participants to practical ways of using AI in business planning, customer acquisition, marketing and everyday operations.
If participants apply the lessons consistently, the training could help some businesses improve their efficiency without immediately hiring specialist technical staff.
Who Can Apply?
The official programme website sets out four main eligibility conditions.
Applicants must be between 18 and 40 years old, reside in Lagos State, possess at least a Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSCE) qualification and have access to a smartphone or computer with an internet connection.
The academy says that applicants do not need previous coding experience or a technology-related educational background.
This is significant because some people assume that AI training is intended only for software engineers, data scientists or university graduates in technical disciplines.
The EkoAI Academy is instead designed around practical use of AI tools, making it potentially relevant to people from different educational and professional backgrounds.
A young graduate seeking employment, a small-business owner, a self-employed worker or someone hoping to improve their workplace productivity may all find applications for the skills being taught, provided they meet the programme’s eligibility requirements.
Access to a suitable device and internet connection remains important. Even when training is free, learners may face indirect costs associated with data subscriptions, transportation or the time required to attend sessions.
Those interested in the programme should review the official eligibility conditions and registration instructions before submitting an application.
The academy’s official enrolment page is available at ekoai-academy.lagosinnovates.ng/ekoai-academy.
What Participants Are Expected to Learn
Prompt engineering is a central element of the academy’s curriculum.
A prompt is an instruction or question supplied to an AI system. The quality and clarity of that instruction can influence the usefulness of the response.
A vague request such as asking an AI tool to prepare a business plan may produce an answer that is too general to be useful. A more detailed instruction that explains the type of business, target customers, available resources and desired outcome can produce a more relevant starting point.
Participants are expected to learn how to communicate their needs to AI tools and apply the responses to practical tasks.
The academy identifies potential applications in employment and business, including job applications, interview preparation, customer discovery, marketing and business planning.
These skills can be useful across different sectors. Teachers may use AI to develop lesson outlines, retailers may use it to organise product information, administrative workers may use it to draft correspondence, and entrepreneurs may use it to explore marketing ideas.
Nevertheless, AI systems can produce inaccurate statements, outdated information or fabricated references. Learners therefore need to develop the habit of checking important claims against reliable sources.
The technology can also reflect bias in its outputs or produce recommendations that are unsuitable for a particular local context.
Responsible use means understanding both the benefits and limitations of the tools rather than assuming that every response is correct.
For a training programme seeking to reach thousands of learners, these practical safeguards are just as important as teaching participants how to generate content.
Why AI Skills Matter for Nigeria’s Labour Market
Artificial intelligence is changing tasks across many industries, including finance, retail, communications, education, professional services and manufacturing.
In some workplaces, AI tools are used to summarise documents, support research, assist with customer enquiries and accelerate routine administrative work. In others, they are being explored for data analysis, software development and operational planning.
These developments are creating demand for workers who can combine their existing professional knowledge with effective digital skills.
For Nigeria, the challenge is not simply to encourage people to use AI. It is to help them apply it in ways that improve the quality of their work, support productivity and create economic value.
A business owner who uses AI to prepare promotional material may still need to understand pricing, customer behaviour and product quality. An employee who uses AI to draft a report must still check the figures and ensure that the conclusions are correct.
Technology is most useful when it complements human knowledge rather than replacing the need for it.
The EkoAI Academy’s emphasis on practical applications could therefore help participants understand how AI fits into ordinary work and business activities.
However, completing a short training programme does not guarantee employment, business growth or higher earnings. Those outcomes depend on the participant’s circumstances, the quality of the training, opportunities in the market and the ability to apply the skills consistently.
The programme should be viewed as a potential pathway to developing useful capabilities, not as a promise of a job or income.
Digital Inclusion and the Cost of Learning
Free training can remove one important obstacle to acquiring digital skills: tuition fees.
For young people who cannot afford expensive technology courses, a publicly supported initiative may offer an accessible way to begin learning about AI.
Yet digital inclusion involves more than making the course free.
Participants need appropriate devices, dependable connectivity, accessible teaching materials and enough time to practise. People living in areas with weak internet coverage or facing financial pressure may find it harder to participate consistently.
The academy’s requirement that learners have access to a smartphone or computer and an internet connection highlights the importance of those resources.
A smartphone may be sufficient for many introductory AI tasks, but some activities are easier on a computer, particularly when learners need to manage multiple documents or complete more complex assignments.
The availability of community-based training could help bring instruction closer to residents, although the precise locations, schedules and arrangements for individual training sessions should be confirmed through official programme communications.
The train-the-trainer approach may also help create a network of people capable of sharing digital knowledge beyond the immediate classroom.
Its long-term value will depend on whether those networks remain active and whether learners can continue developing their skills after the initial training.
Data Privacy and Responsible Use of AI
As more people begin using AI tools, protecting personal and business information becomes increasingly important.
AI applications may process the information users enter into them. Depending on the service and its settings, that information could be retained or used in ways that users do not fully understand.
Participants should therefore avoid entering passwords, banking credentials, confidential customer records, private identification details or sensitive business information into AI tools unless they have verified that the service is appropriate and that the information can be handled safely.
Job seekers should also review AI-generated CVs and applications carefully, ensuring that personal information is correct and that no qualifications or employment history have been invented.
Business owners need to be particularly cautious when using AI to process customer details, financial information or internal company documents.
Another concern is the circulation of false information. AI-generated text and images can appear convincing even when they are inaccurate or misleading.
Training that includes verification, privacy awareness, transparency and responsible use could help participants avoid common mistakes.
The official programme materials highlight practical AI skills, but the precise depth of any dedicated privacy or AI-safety instruction should be confirmed through the academy’s detailed curriculum.
The Role of Lagos State Employment Trust Fund
The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund is the state-backed institution behind the initiative, with Lagos Innovates delivering the academy in partnership with InnoPower Africa.
The partnership brings together a public employment and enterprise-support institution, a state technology initiative and a private-sector partner focused on training.
The arrangement is intended to extend access to practical AI education while drawing on a network of trainers to deliver the programme.
The academy also sits within a broader digital-skills environment in Lagos, where training initiatives seek to prepare residents for technology-related work and support entrepreneurs.
Lagos Innovates lists other programmes aimed at developing technology talent and supporting early-stage ventures, including training and startup-support initiatives.
EkoAI Academy differs from programmes that concentrate exclusively on software development because its stated objective is to teach people how to use existing AI tools for employment and entrepreneurship.
This distinction could help reach residents who want to improve their digital competence without pursuing a full technical career.
The central test for the partnership will be whether its delivery structure translates into meaningful learning outcomes for participants.
Source: Lagos Innovates.
How Success Should Be Measured
The target of 10,000 learners provides a clear numerical objective, but participation figures alone will not establish whether the programme has achieved its purpose.
A comprehensive assessment would examine how many people register, begin training, complete the course and demonstrate practical competence.
It would also be useful to establish whether participants subsequently use AI tools in their work, secure employment, improve their businesses or develop further digital skills.
For the entrepreneurship track, relevant measures could include whether participants use AI to improve customer communication, reduce time spent on routine tasks or develop more effective marketing processes.
For the job-seeker track, assessment could examine whether learners become more confident using digital tools, produce stronger applications and improve their readiness for workplace tasks.
Such measures would help distinguish between training that creates short-term awareness and instruction that supports lasting changes in behaviour.
The programme could also benefit from feedback about access barriers, teaching quality and the challenges learners face when applying their new knowledge.
These are potential measures for evaluating the initiative, rather than outcomes that have already been demonstrated.
The academy’s published target remains an ambition until verified programme reports establish the actual number of people trained and the results achieved.
What Interested Applicants Should Do Next
Residents who meet the eligibility requirements can begin by visiting the academy’s official website and following the enrolment instructions.
Applicants should check that they meet the age, residency and educational conditions, and confirm that they have access to a smartphone or computer and an internet connection.
The academy states that participation is free. Applicants should use the official programme website and be cautious of anyone claiming to guarantee admission in exchange for payment.
The official starting point is:
EkoAI Academy: https://ekoai-academy.lagosinnovates.ng/ekoai-academy
The website provides programme information, eligibility requirements and an enrolment option. Applicants should check the site for any updated deadlines, selection procedures or further instructions before completing their registration.
They should also make sure that contact details supplied during registration are accurate so that they can receive any programme communications.
Registration being open does not necessarily mean that every eligible applicant will automatically be admitted. Interested residents should follow the stated process and await confirmation from the programme administrators.
What Happens Next?
The next major step is the transition from recruitment and trainer preparation to the delivery of training for learners across Lagos State.
The academy’s model relies on 100 certified trainers reaching approximately 100 learners each. If fully implemented, that structure would provide a route to the stated target of 10,000 young people.
Attention will then turn to the quality of instruction, the number of participants who complete the programme and the extent to which learners can apply the skills in employment and business settings.
For Lagos State, the initiative presents an opportunity to widen access to AI education beyond people already working in the technology sector.
For participants, it offers a chance to learn practical digital skills without paying tuition fees, provided they meet the eligibility requirements and can access the necessary devices and internet service.
Its long-term contribution will depend on implementation, learner engagement and the availability of opportunities to put the training into practice.
Conclusion
The opening of registration for the EkoAI Academy marks another effort to expand access to artificial intelligence skills in Lagos State.
By targeting 10,000 residents aged 18 to 40 and using a network of 100 certified trainers, the programme aims to make AI education available to people pursuing jobs as well as those building businesses.
Its focus on practical applications, rather than requiring coding experience, could make the training relevant to a broad range of learners.
The opportunity is significant, but its impact will depend on more than the size of its target. Effective delivery, responsible use of AI, sustained access to digital tools and measurable improvements in participants’ capabilities will determine whether the initiative delivers lasting value.
For eligible Lagos residents interested in developing practical AI skills, the official academy website is now the place to check the current enrolment requirements and apply.
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