The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has posited that the future of Nigeria relies heavily on homegrown innovation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) adoption, and digital sovereignty.
The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, took this position at the AI Summit Nigeria 2026, hosted by Microsoft in Abuja.
Inuwa described AI as a transformative force capable of revolutionizing every economic sector. However, he warned that widespread innovation simply cannot scale without a firm commitment to accountability and transparency.
“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 noted.
Themed “From Policy to Progress: Accelerating Responsible AI Adoption for Nigeria’s Digital Decade,” the summit was a collaborative effort between Microsoft, NITDA, and MTN. The event brought together a diverse group of public and private sector stakeholders to map out actionable strategies for embedding AI into the fabric of Nigeria’s economy.
Inuwa argued that Nigeria must achieve true digital sovereignty, urging a shift from being mere consumers of global technology to becoming active creators of it.
“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,” Inuwa urged.