By Chimezie Godfrey
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to positioning Nigeria as a leading player in Africa’s artificial intelligence (AI) economy through responsible adoption of the technology, digital sovereignty and indigenous innovation.
Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, said AI has the potential to transform every sector of the economy but stressed that trust, accountability and transparency must underpin its deployment.
Inuwa, who spoke at the AI Summit Nigeria 2026 in Abuja through the agency’s Acting Director of Regulation and Compliance, Emmanuel Edet, warned that AI adoption could be hindered if public confidence in the technology is not guaranteed.
“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,” he said.
The summit, themed ‘From Policy to Progress: Accelerating Responsible AI Adoption for Nigeria’s Digital Decade,’ was organised by Microsoft in collaboration with NITDA and MTN.
According to Inuwa, Nigeria must move beyond being a consumer of foreign technologies and become a creator of solutions tailored to local realities.
“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.
He added that Africa should play a significant role in shaping the future of AI globally rather than merely adapting technologies developed elsewhere.
Also speaking, Microsoft’s Director of Government Affairs for West Africa, Nonye Ujam, commended Nigeria’s efforts in AI governance, particularly the National AI Strategy and ongoing regulatory reforms.
She, however, urged stakeholders to focus on implementing practical AI solutions capable of delivering tangible benefits to citizens, businesses and government institutions.
Ujam noted that effective AI adoption requires strong governance frameworks, adequate infrastructure and institutional capacity, while ensuring fairness, security, transparency and accountability.
The summit featured discussions on regulatory clarity, digital sovereignty and strategies for balancing innovation with national interests in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving technology ecosystem.
Representatives of key institutions, including the Nigeria Customs Service, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and Galaxy Backbone, participated in the event.
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