Mr. Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, director general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has called for stronger collaboration, practical innovation, and inclusive policymaking to position Africa as a globally competitive, AI-ready continent.
He made the call while speaking at the Hyperscalers Convergence Africa 2025 in Lagos, themed “Fostering a Digital Africa: Connectivities, Convergence and Innovation.”
During a panel session titled “From Mobile First to AI-Ready: Will Africa Deliver on Innovation?” Inuwa emphasized that Africa’s youthful population is its greatest asset but must be equipped with the right digital skills to avoid becoming a demographic burden.
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“We have a generation that is energetic, curious, and ready to embrace any digital technology available to them. This is a major asset — but only if we equip them with the right skills,” he said.
He highlighted the Federal Government’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme as a key initiative to build digital capacity and transform Africa’s human capital into a digital dividend.
On infrastructure, Inuwa cited the newly approved PPP Policy on Mediation and the Project Bridge initiative as mechanisms to mobilize public and private resources for digital infrastructure development.
He also disclosed that the government is building a robust Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) framework to integrate identity, payments, and data systems—critical foundations for AI-powered services.
Inuwa stressed the importance of leveraging local data and nurturing domestic talent to build AI systems that reflect African realities, warning against overreliance on foreign models that may not align with the continent’s context.
“During the industrial revolutions, Africa supplied raw materials but gained little technological benefit. As we enter this new era, we must ensure unity, build capacity, and collaborate to lead, not follow,” he said.
In another session titled “Shaping Africa’s Digital Future: Policy and Regulatory Frameworks for Accelerated Growth,” Inuwa advocated for a “dream big, but build small” approach, urging scalable innovations that address local needs while aligning with continental and global visions.
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He called for a reinvention of Africa’s social contract through inclusive, data-driven policymaking, emphasizing that effective policies must be co-created with industry stakeholders and grounded in real-world insights.
“At NITDA, we are working to change the narrative through our Intelligent Regulatory Framework. It ensures policymaking is inclusive, evidence-based, and adaptable,” he said.
He cited the development of Nigeria’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy as a model for collaborative policy design, involving experts from civil society, academia, and the private sector.
