The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a thriving digital ecosystem by investing in cloud infrastructure, data classification, and artificial intelligence (AI) applications. This initiative aims to position Nigeria as a leading digital hub in Africa while balancing regulation with industry growth.
NITDA’s Director General, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, shared these insights while speaking as a panelist at the Africa Hyperscalers Digital Infrastructure Outlook 2025. The event convened industry experts to examine Africa’s expanding role in the global AI-driven infrastructure landscape. Inuwa provided a detailed outlook on the agency’s strategic plans, aligning with the Presidential 8-point agenda, which spans multiple economic sectors.
Inuwa emphasized NITDA’s dual approach to regulation, which consists of rule-based and non-rule-based frameworks. He explained that rule-based regulation enforces strict compliance guidelines, while non-rule-based regulation promotes industry-led innovation with predefined benchmarks.
“Before we regulate anything, we need to be aware of the landscape, we need to be intelligent, we need to have data and make sense out of that data. We need to be dynamic because technology is fast-changing, and we must develop agility within the regulatory framework,” he stated.
A major highlight of NITDA’s initiatives is its Cloud First Policy, introduced in 2019 to reduce reliance on physical data centers. The policy encourages government agencies and businesses to adopt cloud computing and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions. Initially allowing waivers for public cloud use, the agency is now advocating for the expansion of local data centers to enhance Nigeria’s digital infrastructure.
Inuwa also noted NITDA’s success in engaging global hyperscalers, including Google Cloud. He revealed that following discussions between Google CEO Sundar Pichai and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Paris, Google pledged to collaborate with local data centers to drive cloud adoption and establish a hyperscaler data center in Nigeria.
To strengthen digital sovereignty, NITDA is finalizing a framework that mandates data classification, ensuring certain categories of data remain within Nigeria. This move is expected to attract more cloud service providers and bolster national security.
On AI adoption, Inuwa emphasized that Africa should prioritize AI applications over developing large language models (LLMs). He highlighted three key areas where AI can revolutionize governance and business operations: automation of processes, enhancement of regulatory efficiency, and development of knowledge management systems.
“The real power of AI is in application, not in building large language models. We should focus on deploying AI to sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and financial services, where it can make an immediate impact,” he asserted.
Dr. Nadu Denloye, Co-founder of Telnet Nigeria Limited, highlighted Africa’s digital transformation, driven by connectivity advancements, cloud adoption, data centers, and AI. She described the event as a platform for crafting solutions to accelerate Africa’s digital growth.
“Africa’s digital revolution is unfolding at an unprecedented pace. By leveraging our collective expertise and fostering collaboration among key stakeholders, we can overcome obstacles and unlock immense opportunities,” she remarked.
Other panelists included Dr. Ayaotunde Coker, CEO of Open Access Data Centres and Chairman of the Africa Data Centres Association; Johnson AgboGbua, CEO of Kasi Cloud; Obinna Isiadinso, Data Centres Global Sector Lead at the International Finance Corporation; Kazeem Oladepo, COO of IHS; and Abibat Kazeem, Commercial Director at Bayobab.
The discussions underscored Africa’s pivotal role in the AI-driven digital infrastructure boom and NITDA’s proactive steps in shaping Nigeria’s digital future.
