Nigeria has taken a decisive step onto the global artificial intelligence education stage following the official accreditation of Cypherdevs Technologies as the country’s first-ever Country and Territory Coordinator for the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI).
Techparley Africa gathered that the accreditation was confirmed by the International Olympia in Artificial Intelligence Board through Certificate No. 144 issued on December 9, 2025.
It grants the Ilorin-based education technology organisation exclusive responsibility to organise Nigeria’s national selection process and prepare students to represent the country at IOAI 2026, scheduled to hold in the United Arab Emirates and hosted by the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi.
Beyond its symbolic importance, the development marks Nigeria’s formal entry into one of the world’s most prestigious pre-university AI competitions, opening a new pathway for young Nigerian innovators to compete, learn, and showcase their capabilities on a truly global stage.
A Historic First for Nigeria’s AI Education Journey
For the first time, Nigeria will officially participate in the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence, joining a growing list of countries investing strategically in early-stage AI talent development.
The accreditation positions Cypherdevs Technologies as the central coordinating body responsible for ensuring that Nigeria’s participation meets the Olympiad’s international standards for fairness, inclusivity, and academic excellence.
According to the IOAI Board, “the organisation was selected after a careful assessment of its national reach, programme impact, and commitment to transparent and inclusive education delivery, qualities that align closely with the Olympiad’s global ethos.”
This milestone arrives at a critical moment for Nigeria’s digital future, as policymakers, educators, and industry leaders increasingly recognise artificial intelligence as a cornerstone of economic competitiveness and innovation.
By enabling structured participation in IOAI, the accreditation provides Nigerian students with exposure to advanced AI problem-solving, ethical reasoning, and global collaboration at a formative stage of their academic development.
What You Need to Know About Cypherdevs Technologies
Cypherdevs Technologies is an education technology organisation based in Ilorin, Kwara State, with a growing reputation for delivering community-centred digital literacy and advanced technology programmes across Nigeria.
The organisation focuses on coding education, artificial intelligence training, youth empowerment, and capacity building, with a mission centred on bridging the digital divide and preparing young Africans for participation in the global knowledge economy.
Its portfolio of initiatives, including KidsCanCode, Tech Titans, the 3MTT programme, and the IDEAS Programme, has positioned it as a credible grassroots-to-national actor in Nigeria’s evolving tech education landscape.
The IOAI Board noted that these programmes demonstrated Cypherdevs’ ability to combine technical rigour with social inclusion, a balance that proved decisive in its selection.
By entrusting the organisation with national coordination responsibilities, IOAI effectively recognised Cypherdevs Technologies as a capable steward of Nigeria’s emerging AI talent pipeline.
A Short Note on the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI)
The International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence is a global academic competition designed to promote excellence, innovation, and ethical leadership in artificial intelligence among pre-university students.
Supported by leading AI scientists, academic institutions, and research bodies, IOAI challenges participants to solve complex, real-world problems using AI concepts while emphasising responsible and ethical technology use.
Since its inception, the Olympiad has become an important platform for identifying and nurturing young talent capable of shaping the future of artificial intelligence worldwide.
IOAI 2026 will be hosted by the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi, one of the world’s foremost institutions dedicated exclusively to AI research and education, underscoring the competition’s growing global significance.
Inclusivity and Nationwide Access at the Core of the Mandate
A defining feature of Cypherdevs Technologies’ accreditation is its explicit mandate to conduct a nationwide and inclusive selection process.
The IOAI Board stressed that participation opportunities must be accessible to students across all of Nigeria’s geopolitical zones, ensuring that talent discovery is not limited by geography, institutional privilege, or socioeconomic status.
The process is also required to remain strictly non-profit-driven, with no individual or institution permitted to charge profit-based fees at any stage of the competition.
Cypherdevs Technologies has publicly reaffirmed its commitment to these principles, pledging to prioritise accessibility and fairness in every phase of the national selection process.
The organisation emphasised that “only nominal fees may be introduced where absolutely necessary to cover essential operational costs,” reinforcing the Olympiad’s ethos of equity and open access.
Positioning Nigeria on the Global AI Map
Reacting to the accreditation, Abdulazeez Tajudeen, Founder of Cypherdevs Technologies, described the development as a national achievement rather than a corporate milestone.
“This is not just a win for Cypherdevs,” he said. “It is a win for the entire country. Nigeria’s youth now have a gateway to compete, learn, and showcase their brilliance on an international stage.”
He added that the organisation views the role as “a significant step toward positioning Nigeria on the global AI map,” underscoring its readiness to collaborate with schools, government institutions, education partners, and the broader technology community.
The statement reflects a broader ambition to move Nigeria from being a passive consumer of AI technologies to an active contributor to global AI innovation through early talent development.
Building a Sustainable Pipeline for Young AI Talent
Beyond competition, the accreditation speaks a longer-term vision for nurturing AI competence among Nigerian youth.
By aligning national training structures with international standards, Cypherdevs Technologies aims to help students develop not only technical proficiency but also critical thinking, collaboration skills, and ethical awareness.
These competencies are increasingly recognised as essential for responsible AI development and governance in a rapidly digitising world.
The IOAI Secretariat has further strengthened this vision by extending institutional support to Cypherdevs Technologies, including access to the Edu-Space Platform to enhance student training and preparation at no cost.
This support is expected to improve learning outcomes while reducing barriers to participation.
What Comes Next for Schools, Students, and Partners
In the coming months, Cypherdevs Technologies is expected to announce the official national registration portal, detailed selection timelines, and the structure of the competition process.
The organisation will also roll out state-level partnership opportunities, as well as mentor and volunteer programmes designed to involve educators, professionals, and community leaders in the initiative.
Participation guidelines for schools and students will be published to ensure clarity and transparency at every stage.
These next steps will determine how effectively Nigeria translates this historic accreditation into a sustainable national framework for AI education and youth innovation.
Talking Points
In my view, Cypherdevs Technologies’ accreditation as Nigeria’s first International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence coordinator is both timely and quietly transformative, especially in a country where conversations around AI often remain abstract and disconnected from early education.
What makes this development particularly significant is not merely the international recognition, but the fact that it shifts AI talent development from rhetoric to structure, from isolated initiatives to a nationally coordinated pipeline.
By anchoring a global competition within a grassroots-driven, non-profit-oriented framework, Cypherdevs is challenging the long-standing urban and elite bias that has defined access to advanced tech opportunities in Nigeria.
However, the true test of this milestone will lie in execution, that’s, sustaining transparency, resisting commercial capture, and ensuring that inclusivity does not remain aspirational but measurable.
If the organisation successfully navigates these pressures, its role could redefine how Nigeria discovers and nurtures technical excellence, positioning AI not as a distant future skill, but as an accessible pathway for the country’s next generation of innovators.
______________________
Bookmark Techparley.com for the most insightful technology news from the African continent.
Follow us on X/Twitter @Techparleynews, on Facebook at Techparley Africa, on LinkedIn at Techparley Africa, or on Instagram at Techparleynews
