Rise Networks, in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Meta, Google, Microsoft and other partners, has launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI) hackathon to develop technology solutions to electoral challenges ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.

According to a statement yesterday, the #AI4Elections Hackathon 2026–2027 will bring together Nigerian developers, researchers, university students, electoral experts, and civil society organisations to develop practical, responsible AI tools to support electoral processes.

Participants will be competing for N10 million in cash prizes across all categories. The overall winner will receive N4 million, while the second- and third-place winners will receive N2.5 million and N1.5 million, respectively.

Four additional awards of N500,000 each will recognise outstanding projects in research and policy innovation, electoral and civic inclusion and others.

The competition, according to the organisers, would focus on addressing challenges such as misinformation, AI-generated fake images and videos, cybersecurity threats, privacy risks and access to reliable electoral information.

Rise Networks Founder, Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, who spoke on the initiative, said it aims to ensure AI innovation strengthens Nigeria’s electoral process rather than introducing new risks, stressing the need to protect citizens’ rights and uphold transparency, privacy, and human oversight.

Akerele-Ogunsiji said Nigeria must actively use AI to safeguard electoral integrity, improve access to reliable information, and build public confidence in democratic institutions.

Rise Networks said the programme would combine the hackathon with an AI4Elections development hub to support the testing and refinement of promising solutions, and an electoral community of practice to sustain collaboration among innovators, researchers, mentors, and other stakeholders.