The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has declared that Africa must take the driver’s seat in the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution, warned that failure to act decisively could leave the continent dangerously behind.
Speaking at the opening of the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) Nigeria 2025 in Abuja, Inuwa stressed that Africa cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of past industrial revolutions where it played only a marginal role. He described AI as the defining force of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and a unique chance for Africa to leapfrog traditional development barriers.
“Any country left behind in this AI revolution risks catastrophe, while those who lead will shape the world,” Inuwa said.
He cited a study by global research firm Epoch AI projecting that automation and AI could raise global economic growth by 20 percent and potentially double the size of the world economy within five years. Such forecasts, he argued, show the urgency for Africa to build AI capabilities and infrastructure.
Inuwa explained that Africa’s AI agenda must rest on four interconnected priorities developing human capital, expanding infrastructure, creating enabling policies, and nurturing an innovation ecosystem. He pointed to Nigeria’s initiatives such as the 3 Million Tech Talent (3MTT) programme, the Digital Literacy for All project, and the funding of 45 AI-focused startups as examples of the continent’s potential.
The NITDA DG also underscored the importance of developing local large language models (LLMs) that reflect African cultures and languages. “Our languages, histories, and values must not be erased in the next wave of technological change. We need African LLMs that can tell our stories and preserve our heritage,” he warned.
Inuwa concluded with a rallying call for unity: “The Fourth Industrial Revolution is not a spectator sport. It is a global contest of ideas, infrastructure, and innovation. Africa must compete—and the only way to compete is together.”
Supporting his remarks, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, urged African countries to fast-track AI adoption across key sectors, warning that the productivity gap between nations would only widen otherwise.
Earlier, the Executive Vice President of the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), Trixie LohMirmand, said Nigeria must “claim its seat at the global digital table,” describing the country as a land of opportunities whose future lies in embracing AI and innovation.
