The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reiterated its commitment to positioning Nigeria as a leading force in Africa’s artificial intelligence ecosystem, stressing that responsible AI adoption, digital sovereignty, and indigenous innovation are critical to achieving the country’s digital transformation goals.
Speaking at the AI Summit Nigeria 2026, hosted by Microsoft in Abuja, the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, described artificial intelligence as a game-changing technology with the capacity to transform every sector of the Nigerian economy. His address was delivered by the Agency’s Acting Director of Regulation and Compliance, Barr. Emmanuel Edet.
Inuwa emphasized that trust remains the cornerstone of successful AI deployment, noting that accountability, transparency, and responsible governance must guide the development and adoption of AI technologies.
“Without public trust, AI adoption will be stalled. Without accountability, innovation will not scale sustainably, and without transparency, citizens will lose confidence in the systems designed to serve them,” he stated.
The summit, themed “From Policy to Progress: Accelerating Responsible AI Adoption for Nigeria’s Digital Decade,” was jointly organised by Microsoft, NITDA, and MTN. It convened policymakers, regulators, technology leaders, academia, and industry stakeholders to explore practical pathways for accelerating responsible AI adoption across Nigeria.
A major highlight of Inuwa’s address was the call for Nigeria to strengthen its digital sovereignty by moving beyond technology consumption to becoming a producer of globally competitive AI solutions.
“We must become creators of intelligence rooted in our realities and responsive to our aspirations. We must invest in local talent, strengthen our research ecosystem, and create an enabling environment where Nigerian and African innovations can flourish,” he said.
He further stressed that Africa must actively shape the future of artificial intelligence by developing solutions that reflect the continent’s unique realities rather than relying solely on technologies developed elsewhere.
Also speaking at the summit, Microsoft’s Director of Government Affairs for West Africa, Nonye Ujam, commended Nigeria’s progress in AI governance through the National AI Strategy and ongoing regulatory initiatives. She, however, urged stakeholders to move beyond policy formulation to implementing AI solutions capable of delivering measurable socio-economic impact.
According to Ujam, successful AI deployment requires strong governance structures, resilient digital infrastructure, institutional capacity, and unwavering commitment to the principles of fairness, security, transparency, and accountability.
The summit featured robust discussions on AI governance, regulatory frameworks, digital sovereignty, innovation, and strategic collaboration, with participants exploring how Nigeria can harness artificial intelligence to drive inclusive economic growth while maintaining responsible oversight.
The event attracted participation from key public institutions, including the Nigeria Customs Service, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Galaxy Backbone, and other stakeholders, reflecting a growing national commitment to building a trusted, inclusive, and globally competitive AI ecosystem.
