The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to making Nigeria a leader in Africa’s artificial intelligence (AI) economy, saying the country’s digital future depends on responsible AI adoption, digital sovereignty, and homegrown innovation.
Speaking on the theme, “From Policy to Progress: Accelerating Responsible AI Adoption for Nigeria’s Digital Decade,“ at the AI Summit Nigeria 2026 in Abuja, NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa, represented by Acting Director of Regulation and Compliance, Barr. Emmanuel Edet, described AI as a transformative technology with the power to reshape every sector.
He said public trust is essential for successful adoption.
“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,” Inuwa said.
He also called for Nigeria to achieve digital sovereignty by moving from consuming global technologies to creating indigenous AI solutions.
“We must become creators of intelligence rooted in our realities and responsive to our aspirations. We must build local talent, strengthen research ecosystems, and create an enabling environment where Nigerian and African solutions can thrive,” he said.
Inuwa said Africa must help shape the future of AI, not just adapt to technologies developed elsewhere.
Microsoft’s Director of Government Affairs for West Africa, Nonye Ujam, praised Nigeria’s progress on AI governance, including the National AI Strategy and regulatory reforms, but urged stakeholders to focus on implementation and delivering measurable benefits.
She said sustainable AI adoption depends on strong governance, digital infrastructure, institutional capacity, and innovation guided by fairness, security, transparency, and accountability.
