Africa cannot afford to remain on the sidelines of the digital revolution, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, has said.
Instead, the continent must transition from being a consumer of technology to a creator and exporter of digital solutions.
Inuwa, represented by Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Director of Stakeholders Management and Partnerships at NITDA, delivered this message at the African Creators Conference 2025 in Abuja.
The event brought together more than 3,000 creators, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss Africa’s place in the global digital economy.
Speaking on the theme “The Future of Africa in the Global Digital Economy,” Inuwa emphasised that Africa’s demographic profile is its greatest strength.
With over 1.4 billion people, 60% of them under 25, the continent has one of the world’s youngest and fastest-growing populations.
According to him, this youthful base, coupled with creativity and digital fluency, provides Africa with a unique opportunity to drive global innovation rather than merely consume it.
“Our innovators and creators should take their rightful place as global leaders and solution providers,” Inuwa said.
To illustrate this vision, Inuwa pointed to Nigeria’s progress in building a robust digital ecosystem.
He cited over 126 million internet users and 205 million mobile subscriptions as indicators of market potential.
He also highlighted government-backed initiatives such as the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, the Nigeria Startup Act, and NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP) 2.0, which are designed to nurture talent, attract investment, and reposition Nigeria as a producer of technology solutions.
Independent reports support this trajectory. For example, the GSMA Mobile Economy Report for Sub-Saharan Africa (2024) projects that mobile technologies and services will contribute $280 billion to regional GDP by 2030, underscoring the economic stakes of digital adoption.
Inuwa also underscored the importance of collaboration at the continental level, urging African nations to leverage frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to harmonise policies and strengthen digital infrastructure.
He argued that coordinated investments could unlock trillions of dollars in potential value across Africa’s digital economy, driving inclusive growth.
“Digital transformation is no longer optional. The choices we make today will determine whether Africa remains on the margins or takes its rightful place at the centre of global innovation,” he stated.
Why It Matters
Analysts argue that Africa’s ability to leap from consumption to creation will shape not just the continent’s economy but its geopolitical influence. By building indigenous technologies, fostering innovation hubs, and scaling digital talent, African nations can reduce dependency on imports, improve resilience, and export solutions tailored to global challenges.
The African Creators Conference 2025 served as a timely reminder of this potential, with discussions centering on how artificial intelligence, blockchain, and digital creativity can fuel cross-border collaboration among Africa’s brightest minds.
