By Joy Onuorah
In a world racing to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Nigeria is not just watching, it’s building.
At the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) 2025 in Dubai, the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, shared Nigeria’s vision to become Africa’s leading AI-driven economy.
Speaking during a Fireside Chat at the AI Stage, Inuwa captured the audience’s attention with a bold yet human-centered message:
“Our vision is clear on how we can harness the transformative power of AI through responsible, ethical, and inclusive innovation to foster sustainable development through collaboration.”
A Vision Rooted in Values, Not Just Technology
Unlike many nations chasing speed, Nigeria’s AI journey is intentional.
Inuwa explained that the country’s National AI Strategy rests on five guiding principles, responsibility, ethics, inclusivity, sustainability, and collaboration.
“These are not just words; they are our compass,” he said. “We are not just building systems; we are shaping a future that works for everyone.”
This strategic framework focuses on three core objectives and five pillars from building AI infrastructure and strengthening ecosystems to promoting responsible innovation and effective governance.
AI in Action: From Farms to Finance
Inuwa painted a vivid picture of AI’s growing footprint across key Nigerian sectors: “In agriculture, we are helping farmers make informed decisions using real-time data on soil, weather, and crop health. In healthcare, AI is enabling faster diagnosis and extending services to rural areas.
In education, we are embedding AI literacy into formal learning so our young people are not left behind. And in finance, AI tools are detecting fraud, improving credit access, and driving financial inclusion.”
He also envisioned a future where government services become seamless through AI: “Imagine a Nigeria where getting your passport or business permit takes minutes instead of weeks. AI can make that a reality. We see it as an opportunity to rebuild trust between government and citizens by making public services smarter, faster, and more transparent.”
Building from Within: Nigeria’s Local AI Revolution
Nigeria’s momentum is already visible; 70% of its online population uses generative AI tools, far above the global average of 48%. Inuwa credited this to the nation’s youthful population and major digital talent initiatives like:
Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL), aiming for 95% digital literacy by 2030.
3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, one of the largest upskilling projects globally.
National policy on integrating digital literacy into all levels of education.
Taking it further, NITDA is developing M-ATLAS, an indigenous Large Language Model (LLM) tailored for Nigeria’s cultural and linguistic diversity.
“Nigeria has over 500 languages and countless dialects,” Inuwa said. “If we rely only on foreign AI models, they won’t understand our nuances or people. That is why we are building M-ATLAS, an AI that understands the meaning of ‘akwa’, ‘ekaabo’, or ‘sannu,’ not just translates them.”
Africa’s Next Leap: From Mobile to Machine Intelligence
Reflecting on Africa’s history of leapfrogging through mobile technology, Inuwa believes AI offers an even bigger opportunity:
“The difference this time is that we are building from within, shaping the rules, not catching up with them.”
He closed with a message that resonated deeply with the audience: “AI is not about machines replacing humans; it’s about amplifying human potential. It’s strategy first, technology second. If we get it right, AI can help Nigeria achieve tenfold even hundredfold, improvements in productivity and innovation.”
“That,” he concluded, “is the future we’re building.”
