AI is Africa’s opportunity to lead, not lag behind — NITDA Boss at GITEX Africa

By Blessing EmmanuelThe Director General of Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has called on African leaders to stop viewing Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an abstract concept and begin deploying it to tackle the continent’s pressing challenges.Speaking at the GITEX Africa 2025 tech conference in Morocco, Inuwa argued that AI holds the potential to revolutionise governance, enhance institutional efficiency, and catalyse development in ways that directly benefit ordinary citizens.“We’ve spoken about innovation for long enough,” Inuwa remarked.

“Now is the time to act. We must embed AI into our leadership models, planning frameworks, and problem-solving strategies. That is how Africa can achieve meaningful growth.



”He advised that AI should no longer be regarded as a luxury or futuristic novelty but rather embraced as an active collaborator — a digital co-worker that augments human decision-making to achieve tangible outcomes.Strategy, he noted, must remain at the forefront, with technology playing a supporting role. He outlined a four-point model for integrating AI into leadership and governance: include AI in strategic discussions, embed it into operations, maintain human oversight to guard against bias and error, and establish clear ethical frameworks to ensure privacy and equity.

Crucially, he added, AI adoption should be viewed as a continual process, not a one-off solution.Inuwa also described NITDA’s own model for managing AI responsibly. The agency’s “Regulatory Intelligence Framework” is built on three pillars: awareness of global trends, intelligent data use, and agility in adapting to fast-evolving technological landscapes.

He cautioned against the risks of building AI systems using data that erases African identities or fails to reflect the realities of its people. “If the system doesn’t see you, it can’t serve you,” he said, stressing the importance of ensuring African representation in digital spaces and datasets.In a rallying call, Inuwa urged African nations to seize the moment.

“We missed out on previous industrial revolutions. This fourth one, powered by AI, gives us a chance not just to catch up, but to lead.”The session brought together prominent tech experts from across the continent — including representatives from Kenya, Nigeria, and OpenAI — all sharing insights on how AI can transform key sectors such as finance, agriculture, and healthcare.

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