By Stronger collaboration, practical innovation, and inclusive policymaking are essential to ensure Africa transitions successfully into an AI-ready continent.
Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa said that Africa’s challenges present immense opportunities if the right structures are put in place, reiterating that Africa’s youthful population—one of the youngest in the world—remains its greatest asset.
Speaking during panel sessions at the Hyperscalers Convergence Africa 2025 in Lagos, themed “Fostering a Digital Africa: Connectivities, Convergence and Innovation”, he said, “We have a generation that is energetic, curious, and ready to embrace any digital technology available to them. This is a major asset-but only if we equip them with the right skills to use these technologies productively.
Inuwa who during the session titled: “From Mobile First to AI-Ready: Will Africa Deliver on Innovation?” Inuwa noted, “This understanding has shaped our approach as a government. We decided to be intentional about turning this demographic advantage into a digital dividend”
He added: “One of the initiatives we launched in this direction is the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, the largest human capacity development and digital transformation initiative in Africa. The goal is simple: to equip our young people with the digital and technical skills they need to thrive in today’s world and power Africa’s digital economy.”
He further disclosed that the government is building a robust Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) framework to connect identity, payments, and data systems, a foundation upon which innovators can build AI-powered and digital services.
On Africa’s position in the global AI ecosystem, Inuwa stressed the importance of leveraging local data and nurturing domestic talent to build AI systems that reflect African realities. He warned against relying solely on models created in advanced economies, which may not account for the continent’s diversity and context.
Drawing from history, he noted that during the industrial revolutions, Africa supplied the raw materials that powered global industries but gained little technological benefit.
He said, “It wasn’t because we lacked resources or talent, but because we lacked collaboration and structural integration. As we enter this new era of digital transformation, we must ensure unity, build capacity, and collaborate to lead, not follow.”
During another panel session titled “Shaping Africa’s Digital Future: Policy and Regulatory Frameworks for Accelerated Growth,” Inuwa advocated for a “dream big, but build small” approach to Africa’s digital transformation. He explained that meaningful progress requires practical, scalable innovations that address local needs while keeping a broader continental and global vision.
“When we talk about Africa’s growth, we must also think in the same ecosystem mindset. In the technology space, we often speak of the Nigerian tech ecosystem, the African tech ecosystem, and the global tech ecosystem. This shows that no one can succeed in isolation. Technology doesn’t respect borders or hierarchies; it connects and transforms.”
He added that as Africa builds its systems, they must be designed to solve immediate challenges while keeping the bigger picture in mind.
