NITDA DG Urges Business Leaders to Embrace AI as Collaborative Partner
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NITDA DG Urges Business Leaders to Embrace AI as Collaborative Partner
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has called on business leaders to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) as a collaborative partner in driving innovation and economic growth, rather than viewing it as a threat to human jobs.
Speaking at the BusinessDay CEO Forum Nigeria in Lagos, Inuwa challenged the conventional notion of AI as merely an automation tool and encouraged CEOs and business leaders to view AI as a thought partner and strategic ally.
According to Inuwa, AI can outperform humans in certain tasks, but its primary function should not be seen as replacing human workers.
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Inuwa argued instead, it is poised to take over specific processes and skills currently relied upon to accomplish routine tasks. This shift requires business leaders to reposition themselves at the center of this technological evolution.
He emphasized the need for CEOs and decision-makers to proactively redefine their roles in an AI-driven world by evolving their capabilities to work effectively alongside intelligent systems.
He highlighted the importance of learning how to collaborate with AI, rather than competing against it, as the surest way to remain relevant and successful in the digital age.
To get the best out of AI, Inuwa advised that businesses should approach AI systems by assigning them specific roles or personas based on the context of their usage.
He also cautioned that AI systems must be approached with vigilance, warning business leaders not to assume AI is always accurate or ethical by default.
Inuwa noted that NITDA has adopted a progressive regulatory approach centered on collaboration, experimentation, and co-creation.
The agency works hand-in-hand with innovators, startups, and the private sector to experiment with emerging technologies like AI and establish clear, evidence-based benchmarks and policies that both support innovation and safeguard public interests.
The BusinessDay CEO Forum Nigeria attracted an influential audience of business executives, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and thought leaders from across the country.
The event served as a platform for high-impact conversations on scaling businesses, building resilience, and driving sustainable innovation in Nigeria’s challenging economic climate.
