ABUJA, Nigeria — The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has renewed its call for responsible adoption of artificial intelligence, saying public trust, digital sovereignty, and local innovation will determine Nigeria’s ability to compete in Africa’s emerging AI economy.
The position was presented by Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of NITDA, during the AI Summit Nigeria 2026 held in Abuja, where government agencies, technology companies, and industry stakeholders met to discuss strategies for accelerating artificial intelligence adoption in Nigeria. His address was delivered by Barr. Emmanuel Edet, NITDA’s Acting Director of Regulation and Compliance.
Okay News reports that the summit, themed “From Policy to Progress: Accelerating Responsible AI Adoption for Nigeria’s Digital Decade,” was organised by Microsoft, NITDA, and MTN, with discussions focused on translating AI policies into practical economic and governance outcomes.
Inuwa described artificial intelligence as a transformative technology capable of reshaping every sector of the economy but warned that widespread adoption would depend on accountability and transparency.
“Without public trust, AI adoption will be stalled,” Inuwa said. “Without accountability, innovation will not scale sustainably, and without transparency, citizens will lose confidence in the systems designed to serve them.”
He also urged Nigeria to move beyond consuming imported technologies and invest in building indigenous AI capabilities.
“We must become creators of intelligence rooted in our realities and responsive to our aspirations,” he said. “We must build local talent, strengthen research ecosystems and create an enabling environment where Nigerian and African solutions can thrive.”
The NITDA Director-General added that Africa should play a greater role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence rather than relying solely on technologies developed elsewhere.
Also speaking at the summit, Nonye Ujam, Director of Government Affairs for West Africa at Microsoft, commended Nigeria’s progress in developing a National AI Strategy and strengthening regulatory frameworks.
She, however, said policy development alone would not be sufficient without practical implementation that delivers measurable value to citizens, businesses, and public institutions.
Ujam said effective AI deployment requires strong governance systems, digital infrastructure, institutional capacity, and adherence to principles of fairness, transparency, security, and accountability.
The summit also featured discussions on regulatory certainty, digital sovereignty, and collaboration between government and the private sector, with participation from institutions including the Nigeria Customs Service, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), and Galaxy Backbone.
