Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to playing a leading role in the global artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, with the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, outlining a bold vision anchored in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Inuwa made the remarks during a plenary session on “Technology, Migration & Trade Representation” at the Stakeholders’ Interactive Engagement with the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance, held at the State House in Abuja.
He explained that the Renewed Hope Agenda prioritises economic diversification and inclusivity, with its seventh pillar focusing on accelerating industrialisation, digitalisation, creative industries, manufacturing, and innovation. This vision, he noted, is driving the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy’s roadmap and shaping NITDA’s initiatives to transform Nigeria into Africa’s digital powerhouse.
At the heart of this ambition is Nigeria’s National AI Strategy, which Inuwa described as a clear pathway for technological transformation. The priority, he said, is building foundational infrastructure to enable Nigeria’s participation in the global AI journey — including expanding connectivity, developing sovereign cloud platforms, and creating clean, representative national datasets.
He cited the launch of the National Multilingual Large Language Model in New York as a major milestone. “For us, it is important that our languages, our culture, and our people are represented in the AI of the future. That is why we built Nigeria’s own multilingual large language model — to ensure technology reflects our identity and diversity,” Inuwa said.
The NITDA boss also highlighted the importance of supporting startups and innovators, anchored on the Nigerian Startup Act, which provides a legal and institutional framework for growth. “Innovation does not happen in isolation. You need an ecosystem that connects government, innovators, investors, and global partners. Through our startup policies, we are deliberately prioritizing inclusivity and giving women founders the space to thrive,” he noted.
On sectoral transformation, Inuwa revealed that AI is being integrated into healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and education to significantly boost productivity. “With AI, we can achieve ten times the productivity we are seeing today. Imagine doctors diagnosing faster, farmers predicting yields more accurately, and manufacturers cutting inefficiencies. That is the kind of leap Nigeria is preparing for,” he said.
He stressed that inclusivity is non-negotiable in Nigeria’s AI journey. “If you are digitally invisible, AI will not consider you in its decision-making. That is why inclusivity is central. In every one of our initiatives, we insist on at least 40 percent women representation, because we cannot build a future that excludes half of our population,” Inuwa stated.
The NITDA DG further emphasized the importance of strong governance and regulation, noting that Nigeria is co-creating its AI governance framework with innovators, industry leaders, and global partners to ensure sustainability. “We cannot build this future in silos. We are working hand in hand to create policies that safeguard innovation while protecting citizens. This is how Nigeria will lead responsibly,” he added.
With this vision, Inuwa said Nigeria is making it clear that it will not wait to be carried along in the AI revolution. “Our journey is not just about technology — it is about people, prosperity, and positioning Nigeria as a global leader in shaping the future of artificial intelligence,” he concluded.
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