Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has called on African leaders to fully embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a vital tool for strategic leadership and innovation. He made the call while speaking at GITEX Africa 2025 in Marrakech, Morocco, during a high-level panel discussion on AI and leadership.
Inuwa stressed that Africa must take advantage of the global shift toward intelligent systems to position itself at the forefront of technological development. He noted that AI is not just changing how work is done but is also redefining leadership and decision-making.
“To lead effectively in this digital age, leaders must go beyond traditional methods and integrate AI into their decision-making processes,” Inuwa said. “AI should be treated as a partner that enhances human capability.”
He outlined four key principles to guide the use of AI in leadership: including AI in strategic planning, maintaining human control and oversight, putting in place ethical safeguards, and continuously learning and improving systems.
Inuwa warned that deploying AI systems trained on biased or incomplete data could lead to the exclusion of entire communities. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that African cultures and people are well represented in global data ecosystems. “If your data doesn’t recognize a community, the technology built on that data won’t either,” he said.
Highlighting Nigeria’s approach to AI governance, Inuwa introduced NITDA’s Regulatory Intelligence Framework which, according to him, is grounded on awareness, intelligence, and adaptability. He explained that the framework provides both rule-based and flexible methods for overseeing AI development in a way that encourages innovation while managing risk.
Looking ahead, he painted a bold picture of Africa’s future, where AI is used to tackle real-world challenges across sectors like health, agriculture, and education. “Africa missed out on the first three industrial revolutions. We cannot afford to miss this one. This time, we must lead,” he concluded.
Joining Inuwa on the panel were other prominent voices in tech including Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology, Philip Thigo; Pesalink CEO, Gituku Kirika; and OpenAI’s Head of Africa, Emmanuel Lubanzadio. Together, they explored how Africa can tap into AI to drive sustainable and inclusive progress.
