NITDA DG to Africa: Lead, Don’t Lag, in AI Revolution
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NITDA DG to Africa: Lead, Don’t Lag, in AI Revolution
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, has charged African countries to work together in building Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure, warning that the continent cannot afford to be a passive player in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Delivering his keynote at the opening of GITEX Nigeria Conference 2025 in Abuja, Inuwa said the era of Africa trailing behind in technological revolutions must end, stressing that AI provides a historic chance for the continent to drive global innovation.
“Any country left behind in this AI revolution risks catastrophe, while those who lead will shape the world,” Inuwa declared.
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Quoting global research firm Epoch AI, he said AI could expand global economic growth by 20 per cent, with the world economy expected to double in size within five years. He described this projection as a call to urgent action for African governments.
The NITDA boss outlined four key pillars to fast-track Africa’s AI adoption—human capital development through digital skills initiatives like Nigeria’s 3 Million Tech Talent (3MTT) programme, building modern digital infrastructure such as data centres and high-performance computing systems, developing sound policy and legal frameworks, and supporting startups, research institutions and global partnerships.
He further revealed that Nigeria has already invested in 45 AI-focused startups and is drafting a national AI strategy under the guidance of the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.
Inuwa also warned of the risks of cultural erasure if Africa fails to develop its own large language models (LLMs) tailored to its people.
“Our languages, histories and values must not be erased in the next wave of technological change. We need African LLMs that will preserve our stories and heritage,” he said.
In his remarks, Dr. Tijani reiterated the urgency of AI adoption, cautioning that Africa risks falling further behind if it does not modernise its systems across key sectors.
“AI will widen the productivity gap between nations. Countries already ahead will move even faster, while those still catching up will find it even more difficult,” the minister said.
On her part, Executive Vice President of the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), Trixie LohMirmand, said GITEX Nigeria offers the country a global stage to showcase opportunities and attract partnerships.
“Nigeria is not defined by today’s challenges but by the scale of opportunities it holds for tomorrow. Those who stay the course will shape the future of Africa,” LohMirmand stated, reaffirming DWTC’s commitment to Africa’s digital transformation.
