By The task nurturing Nigeria’s AI ecosystem rest not just only Nigerian Startup Act which provides a legal and institutional framework for growth but also empowering startups and innovators.
The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa who made the remark during a plenary session themed “Technology, Migration & Trade Representation” at the Stakeholders’ Interactive engagement with the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance, reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to becoming a key shaper in the global artificial intelligence (AI) landscape.
“Innovation does not happen in isolation. You need an ecosystem that connects government, innovators, investors, and global partners. Through our startup policies, we are not just encouraging entrepreneurship; we are deliberately prioritizing inclusivity and giving women founders the space to thrive,” he added.
The NITDA boss explained that Nigeria’s National AI Strategy, lays out a clear pathway for the country’s technological future adding that the first priority is building foundational infrastructure that will allow Nigeria to play a meaningful role in the AI journey.
According to him, this involves expanding connectivity, developing sovereign cloud platforms, and building clean and representative national datasets.
He noted the launch of the National Multilingual Large Language Model in New York as a major milestone, saying, “For us, it is important that our languages, our culture, and our people are represented in the AI of the future.
That is why we built Nigeria’s own multilingual large language model — to ensure that technology reflects our identity and diversity.”
On sectoral transformation, Inuwa explained that AI is being integrated into key industries such as healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and education to radically boost productivity, adding that AI will not replace humans; rather, it will enhance human endeavor.
“With AI, we can achieve ten times the productivity we are seeing today. Imagine what it means when our doctors can diagnose faster, our farmers can predict yields better, and our manufacturers can cut inefficiencies. That is the kind of leap Nigeria is preparing for,” he stated.
Inuwa pointed out that if technology is not designed with inclusivity in mind, vulnerable groups could be left behind.
“If you are digitally invisible, AI will not consider you in its decision-making. That is why inclusivity is not optional — it is central. In every one of our initiatives, we insist on at least 40 percent women representation, because we cannot build a future that excludes half of our population,” he said.
He concluded by stressing the importance of strong governance and regulation, noting that Nigeria is co-creating its AI governance framework with the ecosystem to ensure sustainability.
“We cannot build this future in silos. We are working hand in hand with innovators, industry leaders, and the global community to create policies that safeguard innovation while protecting citizens. This is how Nigeria will lead responsibly”, he said.
With this bold vision, Inuwa said Nigeria is sending a clear message to the world: the country is not waiting to be carried along in the AI revolution but is building the future and inviting others to innovate alongside it.
“Our journey is not just about technology, it is about people, prosperity, and positioning Nigeria as a global leader in shaping the future of artificial intelligence,” he emphasised.
