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The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has called on African nations to take a proactive role in the ongoing AI revolution.
Speaking at the GITEX Nigeria Conference 2025 in Abuja, Inuwa emphasized that Africa must lead, not follow, in harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to drive innovation, digital growth, and global competitiveness.
Inuwa identified four critical pillars for Africa’s AI agenda: human capital development, infrastructure, policy and legal frameworks, and enabling ecosystem.
He highlighted Nigeria’s initiatives, including the 3 Million Tech Talent program and funding for AI-focused startups, as examples for other countries to follow.
The NITDA DG warned that without deliberate efforts, African voices risk being erased from the digital future.
He emphasized the need for local large language models that reflect Africa’s diverse cultures, languages, and values.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, also urged African countries to adopt AI to enhance productivity, competitiveness, and employment creation.
He cautioned that those who fail to adopt AI risk falling behind.
The GITEX Nigeria Conference provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss the role of AI in shaping Africa’s digital economy.
