Professional Certificate in AI Engineering, Machine Learning & AI Governance

AI Enablement
AI Engineering
AI Governance

Professional Certificate in AI Engineering, Machine Learning & AI Governance

Transition into AI from any degree — structured, fast-tracked, employment-focused

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7 months
Duration
Hybrid
Format
Lagos, Nigeria
Location
Rolling 2025
Intake
CAREER SWITCH
Level
Yes
Certificate

What's included

Weekend Mentorship

Live cohort sessions with senior practitioners, every weekend.

Real-World Projects

Build a portfolio with hands-on industry case studies.

Community Access

Join a cohort of peers and the wider Firstlincoln alumni network.

Internship Pathway

Transition from learning into real industry experience through our internship program.

Weekend Mentorship Sessions

More than recorded videos — this is a live cohort.

Our Weekend Mentorship Sessions are live, instructor-led cohorts that run every weekend. Instead of watching pre-recorded lessons in isolation, you join a small group, work through real-world case studies, ask questions in real time, and get direct feedback from senior practitioners actively working in industry.

  • Live Q&A with senior practitioners every weekend
  • Real case-study breakdowns, not just slides
  • Cohort accountability and peer feedback
  • Career guidance, mock interviews and portfolio reviews
Sessions run Virtual or Physical — pick your format when you enrol.

What you'll learn

  • Build, train, and evaluate machine learning models using Scikit-learn and TensorFlow
  • Design and develop LLM-powered applications with LangChain and OpenAI / Anthropic APIs
  • Implement Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems with vector databases
  • Deploy AI microservices using Docker, REST APIs, and cloud platforms (AWS / GCP)
  • Apply MLOps practices: model versioning, CI/CD pipelines for ML, and monitoring
  • Navigate AI governance frameworks: EU AI Act, NDPR compliance, and bias auditing
  • Build explainable AI (XAI) solutions suitable for regulated business environments

Prerequisites

  • Bachelor's degree or HND in any discipline (STEM preferred, not required)
  • Basic familiarity with programming concepts (any language) is an advantage
  • Strong analytical and logical reasoning skills
  • Access to a laptop (minimum 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD recommended)
  • Reliable internet access and willingness to self-study 10–15 hrs/week
  • No prior AI or ML experience required — Python is taught from the ground up

Who is this programme for?

  • University graduates from any discipline seeking a career in AI
  • Software developers wanting to specialise in AI/ML engineering
  • Data analysts looking to advance into machine learning and AI
  • Product managers and business analysts pivoting to AI product roles
  • IT professionals seeking to transition into AI infrastructure and MLOps

Curriculum

5 modules • 25 lessons • 7 months

  1. PHASE 1 AI Foundations & Python

    Weeks 1–3 · 5 lessons
    • ML concepts & terminology
    • Python: data types, OOP, libraries
    • Jupyter Notebooks & Colab
    • Statistics for AI (probability, distributions)
    • Git & version control
    • Supervised & unsupervised learning
    • Scikit-learn pipelines
    • Model evaluation & hyperparameter tuning
    • Feature engineering
    • MLOps overview
    • Neural networks & TensorFlow/PyTorch
    • NLP fundamentals
    • Large Language Models (OpenAI, Anthropic APIs)
    • RAG systems & vector databases
    • LangChain application development
    • REST APIs for AI services
    • Docker & containerisation
    • Cloud AI platforms (GCP, AWS AI)
    • CI/CD for ML models
    • Build: Production AI microservice
    • EU AI Act & NDPR compliance
    • AI risk assessment frameworks
    • Bias auditing & fairness metrics
    • Explainable AI (XAI)
    • Capstone: Governed AI product

Personalized Roadmap

Start your journey with a learning path customised to your motivation and experience

AI Foundations & Python
1
Machine Learning Engineering
2
Deep Learning & LLMs
3
AI Systems & Deployment
4
AI Governance & Ethics
5

Assessment & Certification

Assessment
Assignments (40%), Mid-term Project (20%), Final Capstone (40%)
Certification
Firstlincoln Professional Certificate in AI Engineering & Governance
Delivery format
Hybrid (3 online sessions/week + monthly in-person intensives)

Career outcomes

AI Engineer
Machine Learning Engineer
LLM Developer
AI Product Manager
MLOps Engineer
Internship Pathway

From classroom to a real industry role.

Top performers progress into our Internship Pathway — a structured placement programme of 3, 6 or 12 months. Internships are either sponsorship-backed or guardian-supported, depending on the arrangement that suits the learner.

3 months 6 months 12 months
Learn how the internship pathway works →

Get Expert Guidance

Need support? We've got your back — talk to a Firstlincoln advisor today.

+234 806 693 8330
10am – 7pm (Mon–Sat)
info@firstlincoln.net
You'll hear back in 24 hours.