Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) represented by Dr. Aristotle Onumo, Director of Stakeholders Management and Partnerships, NITDA delivering a keynote address at the African Creators Conference held at Women Development Centre, Abuja, on the theme “The Future of Digital Economy: Artificial Intelligence as Catalyst.”
Africa stands at a defining moment, and the call is clear: it’s time to move from consuming technology to creating it.
This was the powerful message from the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, CCIE, as he challenged African nations to take charge of their digital destiny.
Speaking at the African Creators Conference 2025 in Abuja, where over 3,000 innovators, entrepreneurs, and policymakers gathered, Inuwa, represented by Dr. Aristotle Onumo, NITDA’s Director of Stakeholders Management and Partnerships, said Africa’s transformation depends on shifting from being users of imported solutions to becoming producers of globally competitive innovations.
“Our innovators and creators should no longer play catch-up. They must take their rightful place as global leaders and solution providers,” he said.
With more than 1.4 billion people, and over 60 percent under the age of 25, Africa holds one of the world’s most promising demographics for digital disruption. Inuwa emphasized that the continent’s youthful, creative, and tech-savvy population is its most valuable asset in shaping the future of technology and innovation.
He highlighted Nigeria’s progress as an example of what’s possible. With over 126 million internet users, 205 million mobile subscriptions, and programs such as the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative, the Nigeria Startup Act, and NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan 2.0, the country is laying the groundwork to become a producer and exporter of digital solutions.
However, Inuwa stressed that national efforts must evolve into continental collaboration. Through frameworks like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), he urged African nations to harmonize policies, strengthen innovation ecosystems, and invest strategically in digital infrastructure. He noted that such efforts could unlock trillions of dollars in potential value across Africa’s digital economy.
“The choices we make today will determine whether Africa remains on the margins or takes its rightful place at the center of global digital transformation,” he said.
The African Creators Conference 2025 served as more than just a gathering; it became a rallying point for Africa’s innovators. Conversations centered on artificial intelligence, digital creativity, and cross-border collaboration, leaving participants with a renewed vision to build a continent that not only adapts to the digital future but defines it.
