AI for Nigeria
Building data solutions for local problems
Our first-ever datathon brings data professionals and builders together to work on real problems in health, education, and elections, using data that already exists but rarely reaches the people who need it most.
Applications go live Sept 21, 9:00 AM WAT
Format
Virtual build, live finale
Registration
Sept 21 – Sept 25
Entries
Capped at 40
Cost
Free to enter
Data already exists. Visibility doesn't.
Across health, education, and governance, the people who need to act on data often can't see it in time.
Health
Facility reports pile up but don't reach the person who should restock a clinic.
Education
Exam results exist but don't reach the person who should reallocate teachers or funding.
Politics & Governance
Election results get uploaded to a public portal but rarely get checked against what's officially announced.
Every track asks you to build the missing link. Not a new dataset, but a way to see what's already there clearly enough to act on it.
Three tracks
Pick one at registration. It's a soft choice. Full problem statements, data sources, and constraints are shared once registration closes.
Health
Access, outcomes, and delivery gaps in Nigeria's primary healthcare system, where facility-level data exists but rarely reaches the people making resourcing decisions.
Questions to start from
- Which facilities are running short of what, and who needs to know today?
- Where do people travel furthest for basic care?
- What does a reporting gap in one state actually hide?
Education
Enrollment, staffing, facility conditions, and exam outcomes across Nigerian schools, scattered across sources and rarely combined into something a policymaker can act on.
Questions to start from
- Which schools are under-staffed relative to enrollment?
- Where would one extra teacher change the most outcomes?
- Can exam results tell us where funding should move next?
Politics & Governance
Nigeria heads into election season this month. Polling-unit results are published in near real time. Build something that helps verify them against what's officially announced.
Questions to start from
- Can a result sheet be checked against the announced tally automatically?
- Which polling units look statistically unusual, and why?
- What would make verification something anyone could do?
How it works
From registration to the stage at the YDP Festival, in four steps.
Register before Sept 25
Apply solo or with a team of up to four. Each application counts as one entry toward the cap of 40.
Get the brief
Confirmed entries receive full problem statements, data sources, and a kickoff call on Sept 26.
Build for two weeks
Sept 26 to Oct 11, fully virtual. Submit your solution by 11:59 PM WAT on the deadline.
Demo at the festival
Finalists are notified Oct 31 and present live at the YDP Festival on Nov 14.
₦2,000,000 to be won
Split across the top three entries, announced on Demo Day at the YDP Festival.
1st place
₦1,000,000
2nd place
₦600,000
3rd place
₦400,000
Who should apply
No prior competition experience needed. A problem-solving mindset matters more than a title.
- Data analysts, analytics engineers, and data scientists
- Software or product engineers who want to work with data
- Designers and product thinkers (great in a team, not required solo)
- Anyone with SQL, Python, or AI tooling experience and a problem-solving mindset
- Students and career switchers looking for a portfolio-worthy project
What you're signing up for
Team size
Solo, or teams of 2–4
Location
Virtual build, physical finale
Cost
Free to enter
Prizes
₦2,000,000 pool
The build is fully virtual. Only the finale is in person: finalists present live at the YDP Festival on Nov 14.
Timeline
Every date from registration to Demo Day. All times are WAT.
Sept 21
Mon
Sept 21MonRegistration opens
Sept 25
Fri
Sept 25FriRegistration closes: 40 entries, or this date, whichever comes first
Cap appliesSept 26
Sat
Sept 26SatConfirmed entries receive full problem statements + kickoff call
Sept 26 – Oct 11
2 weeks
Sept 26 – Oct 112 weeksBuild window: virtual, at your own pace
Oct 11
Sun
Oct 11SunSubmission deadline, 11:59 PM WAT
Hard deadlineOct 31
Sat
Oct 31SatFinalists notified
Nov 14
Sat
Nov 14SatDemo Day: finalists present live at the YDP Festival, winners announced
Meet the panel
Data practitioners and industry leaders reviewing every submission. The full panel will be announced soon.
To be announced
Judge
Revealed soon
To be announced
Judge
Revealed soon
To be announced
Judge
Revealed soon
To be announced
Judge
Revealed soon
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Judge
Revealed soon
To be announced
Judge
Revealed soon
Applications close at 40 entries
Whichever comes first: the cap, or September 25.
Whether you're applying solo or with a team of up to four, each application counts as one entry toward the cap. Full instructions, datasets, and judging criteria go out to confirmed entries only, once registration closes.
What we'll ask you for
- Your team details, if you're applying as a team
- Your preferred track, a soft choice you can revisit after the brief
- Confirmation that you can commit to the Sept 26 – Oct 11 build window
40
entries total, solo or team, each counts as one
Takes about five minutes
A few questions, answered
Do I need a team to apply?
No. Solo builders are welcome, and you can opt to be matched into a team at the kickoff call if you'd like company.
What data will we use?
Each track lists suggested public data sources once registration closes. If real access is limited, synthetic or self-collected data is fine. Just state your assumptions clearly.
Is there a cost to enter?
No, entry is completely free.
Can I change my track after registering?
Yes. The track you pick at registration is a soft choice. You confirm it once you've seen the full problem statements on Sept 26.
What happens after I register?
Confirmed entries get the full problem statements, suggested datasets, judging criteria, and an invite to the kickoff call on Sept 26. Nothing is shared publicly before then.
Is the datathon virtual or in person?
The two-week build is fully virtual. Finalists present live at the YDP Festival on Nov 14. That's the only in-person part.
What are the prizes?
A total pool of ₦2,000,000: ₦1,000,000 for first place, ₦600,000 for second, and ₦400,000 for third.
Build something Nigeria can actually use
Registration runs Sept 21 to Sept 25, capped at 40 entries. Solo or team, free to enter.