A new cohort of Nigerian researchers is being called to rethink artificial intelligence from the ground up. The Shaping AI from African Contexts Fellowship 2026, also known as the LUNE 3 Fellowship, is now accepting applications for a 10-week remote programme that centres African perspectives in global AI conversations.
- A new cohort of Nigerian researchers is being called to rethink artificial intelligence from the ground up.
- The Shaping AI from African Contexts Fellowship 2026, also known as the LUNE 3 Fellowship, is now accepting applications for...
- Rather than focusing solely on coding or engineering, the programme equips scholars with analytical tools to interrogate how algorithms interact...
- Navigators, typically with technical expertise, support research development, while facilitators lead structured sessions on AI and digital scholarship.
Keep reading for the full breakdown on AI — everything you need to know is covered below.
Hosted by ResearchRound, the initiative brings together graduate and doctoral scholars to examine how technology intersects with culture, governance, and lived realities across the continent. The programme moves beyond technical frameworks, positioning AI as a system shaped by human values and historical contexts.
Reframing AI Through African Perspectives
The fellowship is designed to challenge conventional approaches to artificial intelligence by embedding it within research in the social sciences and humanities. Participants explore how power, history, and societal structures influence the design and deployment of AI systems.
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Rather than focusing solely on coding or engineering, the programme equips scholars with analytical tools to interrogate how algorithms interact with real-world communities. Fellows are encouraged to connect local experiences in Nigeria to broader global debates around ethics, policy, and innovation.
This approach reflects a growing push among researchers to ensure that African voices shape the future of emerging technologies, rather than remaining passive consumers of externally developed systems.
Who Can Apply and What to Expect
Applications are open to Nigeria-based graduate and doctoral researchers with backgrounds in the humanities or social sciences. Candidates are expected to demonstrate a strong interest in AI-related research and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The program also integrates multiple roles beyond fellows. Navigators, typically with technical expertise, support research development, while facilitators lead structured sessions on AI and digital scholarship. Mentors provide ongoing academic guidance, helping participants refine their research to meet international standards.
This layered structure creates a collaborative learning environment where technical and non-technical perspectives interact, strengthening both research depth and practical understanding.
Inside the 10-Week Learning Model
Delivered online, the fellowship combines structured teaching with hands-on research. Weekly sessions introduce participants to AI concepts and interdisciplinary methods, while mentorship and peer collaboration reinforce learning outcomes.
Participants attend 90-minute classes each week, engage in guided discussions, and work on research projects that address real-world challenges. The programme also offers stipends, enabling scholars to focus on their work throughout the fellowship period.
By the end of the programme, fellows are expected to produce research outputs that reflect both academic rigour and relevance to African contexts.
Key Dates and Timeline
The Shaping AI from African Contexts Fellowship has a structured schedule that maximises engagement in a short timeframe.
Applications close on April 20, 2026, with shortlisted candidates announced between mid- and late May. The fellowship is set to begin shortly after, running through late July or early August, when participants will present their final research projects.
The compressed timeline ensures an intensive experience, allowing scholars to immerse themselves fully in interdisciplinary AI research while building connections that extend beyond the programme.