The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa has declared Nigeria’s readiness to take a leading role in shaping the global future of artificial intelligence (AI), aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at a plenary session on “Technology, Migration & Trade Representation” during the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance engagement at the State House, Abuja, Inuwa highlighted Nigeria’s strategic roadmap for emerging technologies, describing it as central to the country’s digital and economic transformation.
He noted that the Renewed Hope Agenda prioritises accelerating industrialisation, digitalisation, manufacturing, the creative industries, and innovation. This vision, he explained, underpins the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy’s initiatives and guides NITDA’s policies aimed at positioning Nigeria as Africa’s digital powerhouse.
At the core of this strategy is Nigeria’s National AI Strategy, which focuses on building foundational infrastructure, including expanded connectivity, sovereign cloud platforms, and representative national datasets. Inuwa described the recent launch of Nigeria’s National Multilingual Large Language Model in New York as a landmark achievement, ensuring local languages and cultural identity are embedded in AI systems of the future.
“Innovation must reflect who we are,” he said. “That is why we built Nigeria’s own multilingual model, to ensure our voices and diversity are represented in the AI era.”
Inuwa also emphasised ecosystem development, citing the Nigerian Startup Act as a catalyst for entrepreneurship, particularly for women founders. “Innovation does not happen in isolation,” he noted. “We are creating an inclusive ecosystem that connects government, innovators, investors, and global partners.”
On sectoral adoption, the NITDA boss highlighted ongoing efforts to integrate AI into healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and education, saying the technology will amplify, not replace, human effort. “With AI, productivity can increase tenfold, from doctors diagnosing faster to farmers predicting yields more accurately,” he explained.
Addressing inclusivity, Inuwa warned that technology could marginalise vulnerable groups if not properly designed. “If you are digitally invisible, AI will not recognise you. That is why inclusivity is non-negotiable. Every initiative we lead ensures at least 40 percent women representation,” he stressed.
He also underscored the need for robust governance, noting that Nigeria is co-developing its AI regulatory framework with innovators and industry leaders to balance innovation with citizen protection.
“Nigeria is not waiting to be carried along in the AI revolution,” Inuwa declared. “We are building the future, responsibly and inclusively, while inviting the world to innovate with us.”
