The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, CCIE, has called on African nations to unite in developing shared Artificial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure, insisting that Africa must lead not follow, in the ongoing Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Speaking at the opening of GITEX Nigeria Conference 2025 in Abuja, Inuwa cautioned that Africa cannot afford to repeat its marginal role in past industrial revolutions. He stressed that the AI era presents a rare opportunity for the continent to shift from being a consumer of technology to becoming a global driver of innovation.
“Any country left behind in this AI revolution risks catastrophe, while those who lead will shape the world,” he declared.
Citing research by global firm Epoch AI, Inuwa revealed that automation and AI could boost global growth by 20 percent and potentially double the world economy within five years, evidence, he said, of why Africa must invest in AI capabilities now.
To drive this agenda, Inuwa outlined four pillars:
Human Capital Development, through initiatives like Nigeria’s 3 Million Tech Talent (3MTT) programme and Digital Literacy for All.
Infrastructure, including modern data centres, expanded connectivity, and high-performance computing to preserve data sovereignty.
Policy and Legal Frameworks, national AI strategies that balance innovation with ethics, with Nigeria already drafting a model strategy under Dr. Bosun Tijani.
Ecosystem Support, empowering startups, funding research institutions, and partnering with global tech firms.
He disclosed that Nigeria has already funded 45 AI-focused startups and called for the creation of African Large Language Models (LLMs) to protect local cultures, languages, and values.
“Our histories and values must not be erased in the next wave of technological change. We need African LLMs that can tell our stories,” he said.
Also addressing the conference, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, warned that Africa could fall further behind if it delays AI adoption, noting that agriculture, finance, logistics, and education are already being transformed by AI globally.
“AI will widen the productivity gap between nations. Those already ahead will accelerate faster, while those lagging will struggle to catch up,” Tijani said.
Earlier in her opening remarks, Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President of the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), urged Nigeria to claim its place in the global AI economy. She described the country not by its challenges but by the “scale of opportunities of tomorrow,” reaffirming DWTC’s commitment to helping African startups, SMEs, and innovators secure global partnerships through GITEX.
Inuwa concluded with a rallying call for unity: “The Fourth Industrial Revolution is not a spectator sport. Africa must compete and the only way to compete is together.”
