NITDA DG: Nigeria sets bold agenda to shape future of AI - ITREALMS

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Nigeria is positioning itself to play a defining role in the global artificial intelligence (AI) revolution, according to the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking at the Stakeholders’ Interactive Engagement with the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance in Abuja, Inuwa reaffirmed that the country’s AI vision is anchored on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes industrialization, digitalization, creative industries, manufacturing, and innovation.
He noted that this agenda informs the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy’s roadmap and guides NITDA’s efforts to transform Nigeria into a digital powerhouse.

At the core of this ambition is Nigeria’s National AI Strategy, designed to expand digital infrastructure, build sovereign cloud platforms, and develop clean, representative datasets. Inuwa described these as the foundations that will enable the country to participate meaningfully in the AI-driven future.

Highlighting progress, he cited the launch of the National Multilingual Large Language Model in New York as a milestone, ensuring Nigeria’s culture, languages, and identity are represented in global AI systems.


“For us, it is important that our languages, our culture, and our people are reflected in the AI of the future,” he said.

Equally, he stressed the importance of an enabling ecosystem for innovation, driven by the Nigerian Startup Act.


“Innovation does not happen in isolation. You need an ecosystem that connects government, innovators, investors, and global partners,” he said, stressing that policies are deliberately inclusive, with at least 40 percent women representation mandated across initiatives.

Inuwa explained that AI integration is underway across healthcare, agriculture, education, and manufacturing to boost efficiency and productivity.


“AI will not replace humans; it will enhance human endeavor. With AI, we can achieve ten times the productivity we are seeing today,” he noted.

He also underscored the need for strong governance, pointing out that Nigeria is co-creating its AI governance framework with stakeholders to balance innovation with citizen protection.

“Nigeria is not waiting to be carried along in the AI revolution. We are building the future and inviting others to innovate alongside us. 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,” Inuwa concluded.