National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to building an inclusive, innovation-driven artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem, with a strong focus on empowering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to harness emerging technologies for economic growth.
The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, made the commitment at the launch of the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition (ESBC)-INNOPOWER Free MSMEs AI Master Trainer Programme held at the United Nations House in Abuja.
Represented by the Director of Digital Development Services, Mr. Oladejo Olawunmi, Inuwa described artificial intelligence as a transformative technology that is reshaping economies, industries and governance across the world.
He said the launch of the programme reflected a shared commitment by stakeholders to equip MSMEs with the knowledge and skills required to thrive in an increasingly AI-driven economy.
According to him, artificial intelligence is no longer a technology of the future but a defining force of the present, creating opportunities for countries that invest strategically in innovation, digital infrastructure and human capital.
Inuwa said Nigeria was implementing its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy to strengthen AI infrastructure, build a world-class innovation ecosystem, accelerate AI adoption across critical sectors, promote responsible AI development and establish a governance framework that ensures the technology benefits society.
He said the country had made a deliberate decision to become an active contributor to the global AI ecosystem rather than remain a passive consumer of technologies developed elsewhere.
The NITDA boss highlighted several government initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s AI capabilities, including the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), the Nigeria AI Collective, the N-ATLAS multilingual large language model, the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) programme and the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative.
He said the programmes were designed to build indigenous AI capacity, expand digital literacy and prepare Nigerians for opportunities in the digital economy.
Inuwa described MSMEs as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, noting that wider adoption of artificial intelligence would enable small businesses to improve productivity, automate business processes and access new markets.
He stressed that Africa’s success in the AI era would depend on sustained investments in talent development, digital infrastructure and strategic partnerships.
“The countries that lead the AI economy will not be those that consume the most AI solutions, but those that cultivate talent, build infrastructure and create ecosystems where innovation can flourish responsibly,” he said.
The Director-General commended INNOPOWER and the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition for providing a platform that would advance responsible AI adoption, strengthen collaboration and empower entrepreneurs across Nigeria and the ECOWAS region.
He also emphasised the need to develop sovereign digital infrastructure, preserve indigenous languages in AI systems and expand digital literacy to ensure that every Nigerian benefits from the country’s digital transformation.
According to him, Africa is at a defining moment in its technological evolution and must seize the opportunity to become a creator of AI solutions capable of competing globally.
Earlier, the Regional President of the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition, Dr. Abdulrashid Yerima, described the MSME AI Master Trainer Programme as a strategic investment in Africa’s human capital.
Yerima said the initiative was designed to equip trainers with practical artificial intelligence skills that would enable them to support entrepreneurs and strengthen MSMEs across the region.
He expressed confidence that the programme would expand economic opportunities, create quality jobs and promote sustainable industrial development.
He also called for stronger collaboration among governments, development partners, financial institutions, academia and the private sector to build an AI-driven economy capable of enhancing Africa’s competitiveness and delivering inclusive economic growth.
