Benin launched its first National AI Olympiad in 2026 as a multi-ministry programme to identify and prepare young Beninese AI talent for the International AI Olympiad (IOAI) 2026. The initiative is jointly piloted by the Ministry of Digital Affairs and Digitalisation (MND), the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MESRS), the Ministry of Secondary Education, Technical and Vocational Training (MESTFP), and the Sèmè City Development Agency (ADSC).
Participants compete across machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and robotics challenges on the Zindi platform. Selected finalists receive an intensive, publicly funded training programme to prepare for international competition — providing free, substantive AI skills development to young Beninese citizens through a government-coordinated programme.
Who it affects: Young Beninese learners across secondary and higher education, with multi-ministry coordination ensuring broad national reach. The competition is open and free to enter.
What is notably missing: The Olympiad targets talented youth for international competition rather than providing general-population AI literacy. It does not constitute a binding curriculum mandate or employer training obligation. Benin’s National AI and Big Data Strategy (SNIAM 2023–2027) remains the overarching policy framework, but no binding school AI curriculum law has been enacted.