NITDA Moves to Position Nigeria as Global AI Solutions Provider
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The National Information Technology Development Agency, NITDA has said Nigeria is taking deliberate steps to position itself as a global provider of artificial intelligence solutions rather than remain a consumer of technologies developed abroad.
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, disclosed this in Abuja during the launch of the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition-INNOPOWER Free MSMEs AI Master Trainer Programme, saying the country was laying the foundation for a globally competitive AI ecosystem through strategic investments in infrastructure, innovation and digital skills.
Represented by the Director of Digital Development Services, Oladejo Olawunmi, Inuwa said artificial intelligence had become a defining force reshaping economies, industries and governance worldwide, making it imperative for Nigeria to strengthen its capacity in the emerging technology.
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He said the agency was implementing the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy to expand AI infrastructure, promote responsible innovation, accelerate AI adoption across critical sectors and establish governance frameworks that ensure the technology is deployed ethically.
According to him, Nigeria has deliberately chosen to become an active contributor to the global AI ecosystem instead of depending on technologies developed in other countries.
“Nigeria has made a deliberate choice. Rather than remain a passive consumer of AI built elsewhere, we are building the foundations to become an active contributor to the global AI ecosystem,” he said.
The NITDA boss said the agency was driving several initiatives to achieve the objective, including the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, the Nigeria AI Collective, the N-ATLAS multilingual large language model, the Digital Literacy for All programme and the 3 Million Technical Talent initiative.
He noted that the programmes were designed to strengthen indigenous AI capabilities, develop digital talent and prepare Nigerians to compete in the global digital economy.
Inuwa described Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, noting that wider adoption of artificial intelligence would improve productivity, automate business processes and unlock new market opportunities for entrepreneurs.
He added that Africa’s ability to compete in the AI economy would depend on sustained investments in human capital, digital infrastructure and strategic partnerships.
“The countries that lead the AI economy will not be those that consume the most AI solutions, but those that cultivate talent, build infrastructure and create ecosystems where innovation can flourish responsibly,” he said.
The NITDA chief commended the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition and INNOPOWER for launching the AI Master Trainer Programme, describing it as a platform that would promote responsible AI adoption, strengthen collaboration and empower entrepreneurs across Nigeria and the ECOWAS sub-region.
He also called for greater investment in sovereign digital infrastructure, preservation of indigenous languages in AI systems and expanded digital literacy to ensure more Nigerians participate meaningfully in the country’s digital transformation.
Earlier, the Regional President of the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition, Dr Abdulrashid Yerima, described the MSMEs AI Master Trainer Programme as a strategic investment in Africa’s human capital.
He said the initiative would equip trainers with practical AI skills to support entrepreneurs, strengthen small businesses, create jobs and accelerate industrial development across the region.
Yerima urged governments, development partners, financial institutions, academia and the private sector to deepen collaboration in building an AI-driven economy capable of boosting Africa’s competitiveness and delivering inclusive economic growth.
