Britain extends offer to Nigeria's tech entrepreneurs to enter €827,000 competition focused on digital innovation and artificial intelligence.

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The United Kingdom has called on innovators and small and medium-sized enterprises across Africa, including Nigeria, to apply for the 2026 Digital Energy Challenge.

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The announcement was made on Monday via the UK in Nigeria’s official X handle.

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The challenge, co-funded by the UK and European Union, targets digital and AI-enabled solutions that can increase energy access, support the energy transition, and improve the operational efficiency of electricity utilities in Africa.

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According to the notice, the programme is open for applications in two categories: “Tech Accelerator for innovative digital projects in one of the 51 specified countries in Africa, and

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“Partnership for a collaborative project in Nigeria, developed with the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).”

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The embassy said that with around 90 million people lacking reliable electricity in Nigeria, the initiative offers a unique opportunity to “test solutions in real-world conditions, demonstrate scalability and resilience, develop innovations with strong R&D value and create models replicable across other countries in Africa.”

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It added that “a total of €827,000 has been earmarked for selected projects.”

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Winners in the Tech Accelerator category will receive up to €150,000, while those in the Partnership category may receive up to €400,000.

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The funding is expected to support equipment, software, training, and project implementation, alongside technical and expert assistance.

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The programme also includes bootcamps, networking opportunities, and visibility support through communication campaigns led by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Digital Energy Community.

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On eligibility, the UK embassy said, “Applicants must be SMEs with fewer than 250 employees, annual turnover below €50 million, a strong research and development component, and no conflict of interest with AEDC.

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“Projects must also be digital in nature, already beyond the ideation stage, and implementable within 12 months.”

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Applicants are urged to visit https://digital-energy.eu/en/digital-energy-challenge-for-start-call-projects to apply.

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Applications opened on April 20 and close on June 17, 2026.

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