The hub's programmes are structured as managed experiments: each track supports implementation while producing learning that can inform portfolios, partners, policy, and scale decisions.
The DIH accelerator is designed for early-stage ventures, media startups, civic technologists, and founders working at the intersection of technology and Africa's most pressing challenges. Two cohorts per year. Physical in Abuja, hybrid-accessible across the continent.
Cohorts receive mentorship from domain experts, infrastructure access, funding connections, and a structured pathway from idea to market-ready product. The programme is hybrid — combining physical intensity at the DIH with remote participation for distributed African teams.
The accelerator is open to Nigerian and Pan-African founders. We particularly welcome applications in media, civic tech, AgriTech, health tech, edtech, and climate tech. Teams at idea stage through to early prototype are eligible. Established organisations applying for a specific programme track should apply separately.
A structured journey from raw idea to market-ready, investment-ready solution.
Teams outside Abuja can participate fully via the DIH's hybrid infrastructure — physical bootcamp intensives at key phases, with remote collaboration and mentorship throughout. African founders anywhere on the continent are welcome to apply.
A pioneering qualification track combining a micromasters, foundation certificates, and university partnerships — building the next generation of media technology professionals across Nigeria, the US, and Europe.
A media innovation qualification awarded in partnership with journalism schools in Nigeria, the US, and Europe. The curriculum covers frontier technology-facilitated journalism, AI in the newsroom, data storytelling, and media sustainability models.
The micromasters track is designed for practising journalists and media professionals looking to future-proof their careers in a rapidly changing industry.
Shorter, modular certificates for individuals and newsrooms who want to build specific skills without committing to the full micromasters. Certificates cover AI tools for journalism, data visualisation, investigative research methods, and media business development.
Delivered both in-person at the DIH and online — accessible to journalists across Nigeria and Africa.
MIST is developed in partnership with journalism schools in Nigeria, the United States, and Europe. These partnerships provide academic validation, curriculum input, faculty exchange, and international credentialing.
Partnerships confirmed and in development. Contact [email protected] for institution-specific collaboration.
The Nigeria Media Innovation Labs (NMIL) extend the DIH's footprint through satellite laboratories embedded inside universities across all six geopolitical zones. Each lab delivers an action-oriented MST Masters programme, producing real media technology products built by multidisciplinary teams.
Every satellite lab has a technologist, a media or business strategist, and a journalist working together — because real media technology products require all three. The curriculum is built around live projects for the Nigerian and African media industry.
Faculty are drawn from the DIH's network: CCHub, CJID, Dataphyte, premium newsrooms, and technology organisations working at the intersection of media and civic life.
By embedding in universities across all six zones, NMIL ensures that Nigeria's media innovation ecosystem is not concentrated in Lagos and Abuja. Every region contributes to — and benefits from — the infrastructure being built.
University partnerships are in development. Institutions interested in hosting a satellite lab should contact [email protected].
Young Nigerians should move beyond being users of AI to becoming producers of AI infrastructure and solutions. The DIH provides the institutional home for a programme targeting youth, women, and individuals with disabilities across Nigeria.
Multidisciplinary talent-building events that take young people from foundational digital literacy through to deployment of AI tools and solutions for key socioeconomic sectors. Mobile deployments reach secondary cities and rural communities — not just Abuja and Lagos.
AI tools, digital literacy, and applied skills — delivered in English and Nigerian languages through the Academy and satellite hubs.
Label and produce indigenous language AI datasets through GoLoka — generating income while building Nigeria's AI foundation.
Join the AI Research & Governance Cohort — publish outputs that shape Nigeria's AI policy at national and international levels.
Graduate into employment, contracting, founding, or fellowship — with a network, a credential, and a community behind you.
Recruit and train the first cohort of young data agents. Launch the Academy's AI curriculum. Activate four university satellite hubs. Convene the inaugural AI Research & Governance Cohort.
Expand dataset coverage to ten languages. Research Cohort produces first policy briefs and participates in AU AI policy and UN IGF. Mobile deployments expand Academy reach beyond Abuja and Lagos.
Fellowship and training tracks for journalists, data scientists, civic technologists, and government professionals — embedding them in the DIH to develop investigations, tools, and institutional capacity.
15 to 20 young Nigerian researchers, linguists, journalists, policy analysts, and developers placed in active research roles — producing policy briefs and participating in continental and international AI governance forums.
Fellowship tracks for journalists, data scientists, and civic technologists — embedding them in the DIH to develop investigations, tools, and products. Part of the broader pipeline feeding into the Media Sovereignty Fund and Creatives and Media Innovation Lab.
Custom capability-building for civil servants, government agencies, and corporate teams — turning data and digital skills into institutional capacity. Delivered through the GovTech and Policy Innovation Lab with measurable policy output targets.
Embedding the DIH model — tools, mentors, programmes, and community — directly inside Nigerian and African universities through the GoLoka ecosystem.
Students access live projects, accelerator tracks, and professional networks without leaving campus. University chapters act as the DIH's eyes and ears on the ground — running Vibeathons, recruiting data agents, and feeding the innovation pipeline with fresh talent and ideas.
University partners get more than a programme. They get infrastructure, curriculum, faculty networks, and a live pipeline connecting their students to Nigeria's most active innovation ecosystem.
All programmes are open to applicants across Nigeria and Africa. We review every application and respond within two weeks.