GITEX 2025: Nigeria positioning economy as Africa’s AI powerhouse –Inuwa, NITDA Chief

*Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency, at GITEX 2025, in Dubai, gives insight into Nigeria’s commitment to leveraging Artificial Intelligence for national development, innovation, and global competitiveness

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has restated Nigeria’s commitment to leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) for national development, innovation, and global competitiveness.

ConsumerConnect reports Malam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said this while speaking during a Fireside Chat at the AI Stage of the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) 2025, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Offering insights into the theme of Nigeria’s AI journey thus far, Inuwa emphasised the West African country’s approach to adopting AI is deliberate and strategic.

NITDA also quoted Inuwa to have stated: “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.”

He equally explained how Nigeria’s AI Strategy is built upon five guiding principles.

Inuwa listed these principles as responsibility, ethics, inclusivity, sustainability, and collaboration.

The NITDA Chief Executive declared: “These are not just words; they are our compass.

Cybercrimes: Nigerian Government deports 192 foreigners for various offences

“Everything we are doing in AI must reflect these values.

“We are not just building systems; we are shaping a future that works for everyone.”

Core objectives of National AI Strategy, by Inuwa

In his further contribution to the Fireside Chat at AI Stage of GITEX 2025, Inuwa disclosed that Nigeria’s National AI Strategy is structured around three key objectives, and five strategic pillars.

According to him, these are aimed at building foundational infrastructure, strengthening the ecosystem, accelerating adoption across critical sectors, promoting responsible and ethical AI, and ensuring effective governance.

Highlighting the impact of AI across sectors of the economy, the Director-General of NITDA declared that the technology is already driving transformation in agriculture, healthcare, education, and finance in the emerging Nigeria Digital Economy.

He further explained: “In agriculture, we are helping farmers make informed decisions using real-time data on soil, weather, and crop health.

READ ALSO: NAFDAC Challenges Local Pharmaceutical Firms To Jumpstart Production Of Vaccines

GITEX 2025: Nigeria Positioning Economy As Africa’s AI Powerhouse –Inuwa, NITDA Chief

Dangote Seeks Legislation Of ‘Nigeria First’ Policy To Drive Growth In Manufacturing Sector

“In healthcare, AI is enabling faster diagnosis and extending services to rural areas.”

Inuwa stated: “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 as well explained how the Nigerian Government is exploring AI applications to enhance public services.

All these envision a future where citizens can obtain passports or business permits in minutes rather than weeks, he noted.

Inuwa asserted: “AI can help 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.”

70 Percent Nigerian digital consumers use generative AI tools

Inuwa revealed that 70 percent of Nigeria’s online population already uses generative AI tools, surpassing the global average of 48 percent.

The Director-General attributed this development to the Nigerian youthful population and proactive investment in digital talents.

He took the opportunity to enumerated NITDA’s flagship digital initiatives, including the Digital Literacy for All programme (DL4ALL), which targets 95 percent national digital literacy by 2030; the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, one of the world’s largest digital upskilling projects; and a new policy digital literacy integration into all levels of education.

Inuwa, at GITEX 2025, unveiled Nigeria’s plan to develop its indigenous Large Language Model (LLM), known as M-ATLAS.

He said: “Nigeria has over 500 languages and countless dialects.

“If we rely only on foreign AI models, they won’t understand our nuances, culture, or people.”

The Chief Executive of the Information Technology (IT) sector regulatory agency stated: “That is why we are building M-ATLAS, an indigenous LLM that reflects our diversity and eliminates bias.

“We want an AI that understands the meaning of ‘akwa’, ‘ekaabo’, or ‘sannu’, not just translates them.”

Reflecting on Africa’s potential, Inuwa drew parallels with the continent’s technological leap in mobile adoption, asserting that Africa could surpass that success in AI.

The Director-General stated: “The difference this time is that we are building from within, shaping the rules, not catching up with them.

“AI is not about machines replacing humans; it is about amplifying human potential.”

Inuwa said: ” It is strategy first, technology second. Our mission is to use AI responsibly to drive prosperity, inclusivity, and sustainable development. “If we get it right, AI can help Nigeria achieve tenfold or even hundredfold improvement in productivity and innovation.

“That is the future we’re building.”

Kindly Share This Story