Nigeria’s ambition to shape an Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem that reflects its national identity, protects citizens and creates economic opportunities took centre stage as the Director-General/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, called for a shift from AI consumption to meaningful participation in its development.
Abdullahi, who made the call at the 81st UN high-level global dialogue on technology, innovation and social business for sustainable and inclusive development, stressed that Nigeria’s AI aspirations are rooted in digital sovereignty, human accountability and the ability of citizens to create value from emerging technologies.
He clarified that digital sovereignty should not be mistaken for technological isolation, explaining that Nigeria seeks the capacity to ensure that AI understands its data, context and nuances, operates within Nigerian law, and reflects its culture and values, while remaining open to global investment, models and partnerships.
The NITDA chief argued that the success of AI should not be defined solely by technological advancement or wider adoption, but by its ability to improve lives and empower people to participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
“Inclusive AI requires representation and access—and access must mean agency, not just consumption.”
He maintained that AI systems must reflect the languages, cultures, data, contexts and values of the populations they serve, while giving people the opportunity to understand, build with, shape and create value from the technology.
Illustrating the practical implications of this vision, Abdullahi described how AI could transform agriculture by placing expert knowledge within the reach of farmers who have limited access to professional agronomists.
With an AI-enabled agronomist in his pocket, a Nigerian farmer could better understand weather conditions and soil, assess crop challenges and connect to markets.
“The promise of AI is not that every Nigerian becomes an AI expert. It is that AI can put expertise within the reach of every Nigerian.”
According to him, the real measure of AI’s impact should be better decision-making, increased productivity, higher incomes and stronger families and communities.
To translate this vision into reality, Abdullahi identified four foundational pillars of Nigeria’s inclusive AI strategy: CONNECT, SKILL, COMPUTE and CREATE.
He pointed to Project BRIDGE as part of efforts to expand connectivity, while DL4ALL, 3MTT and TVET are helping to strengthen digital and technical capabilities. He also highlighted initiatives to build sovereign cloud and AI capabilities, alongside efforts to create an enabling environment where entrepreneurs can develop sustainable solutions to societal challenges.
Beyond infrastructure and skills, the DG called for a shared commitment from governments, global technology companies and citizens to ensure that AI development delivers inclusive benefits.
He said governments must provide enabling infrastructure, policy clarity and regulatory certainty while protecting citizens. Global technology companies, he added, must move beyond selling technology to Africa and instead “build with Africa” through investments in compute, knowledge transfer, talent development, support for African datasets and languages, and partnerships with local innovators and researchers.
Citizens, particularly young people, were encouraged to embrace AI as a tool for enhancing their capabilities and productivity.
Abdullahi also underscored the importance of preserving human accountability as AI becomes increasingly embedded in decisions affecting health, livelihoods, rights and public services.
“We can delegate tasks to machines. We cannot delegate accountability.”
The NITDA boss delivered his message at a gathering of global political leaders, development advocates and technology stakeholders, including H.E. Dr. Khalilur Rahman, President of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly; H.E. José Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and 1996 Nobel Peace Laureate; H.E. Dasho Tshering Tobgay, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan; H.E. Wellington Dias, Brazil’s State Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight Against Hunger; and H.E. Bilal Bin Saqib, MBE, Minister of State and Chairman of Pakistan’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.
The programme also featured Professor Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate, Founder of Grameen Bank and Chair of the Global Committee on Social Business for Sustainable Development Goals.
The session was welcomed by Ms. Lamiya Morshed, Executive Director of the Yunus Centre, and co-moderated by Mr. Dominique V. Dauster, Managing Director, Yunus+You – YY Foundation, and Mr. James Chau, President of the China-United States Exchange Foundation and WHO Goodwill Ambassador.
Concluding his address, Abdullahi challenged policymakers, technology companies and innovators to examine the inclusiveness of the AI systems they develop by asking two questions: Who is represented in the intelligence we are creating? And who has the agency to shape and create value from that intelligence?
He said Nigeria’s vision must go beyond producing increasingly sophisticated machines to harnessing AI in ways that expand human potential.
“The defining achievement of the AI age should not be that we created machines capable of extraordinary intelligence. It should be that we used that intelligence to unlock extraordinary human possibility; for everyone.”
Through NITDA, Nigeria remains committed to building an AI ecosystem where representation creates relevance, access creates opportunity, and agency empowers Nigerians to become creators, not merely consumers, of the AI economy.