In the bustling halls of the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, where innovators, policymakers, and tech leaders gathered for the Hyperscalers Convergence Africa 2025, the air buzzed with a singular theme, how Africa can position itself not just as a participant but as a leader in the age of artificial intelligence.
At the centre of this conversation was Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, director general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), whose voice carried both urgency and optimism.
Inuwa’s message was clear: Africa’s readiness for AI will depend on collaboration, practical innovation, and inclusive policymaking.
“We have a generation that is energetic, curious, and ready to embrace digital technology,” Inuwa said during the panel session titled “From Mobile First to AI-Ready: Will Africa Deliver on Innovation?” “This is our greatest asset, but only if we equip them with the right skills. Otherwise, this energy could become a demographic burden.”
It’s a message that echoes across Nigeria’s fast-evolving digital landscape, a continent brimming with youthful potential, yet at risk of missing out on the next industrial leap if structures aren’t intentionally built.
To change this narrative, Inuwa pointed to Nigeria’s 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, the continent’s largest human capacity development initiative aimed at transforming Africa’s youth into a digitally skilled workforce. “The goal is simple,” he said. “Equip our young people with the technical skills they need to thrive in today’s digital economy and drive the transformation of Africa’s digital future.”
Building the Infrastructure for the Future
Inuwa didn’t stop at skills. He revealed that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, Nigeria is introducing new funding mechanisms and public-private partnerships to fast-track digital infrastructure.
He highlighted initiatives such as the PPP Policy on Mediation and the Project Bridge framework, both designed to align investments from government, private sector players, and development partners to accelerate the rollout of critical digital systems.
According to him, Nigeria is also laying the foundation for a Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) framework, one that connects identity, payments, and data systems.
This, he explained, is the bedrock upon which AI-powered innovations and digital services will flourish.
AI for Africa, by Africa
Inuwa issued a call for Africa to define its own AI trajectory. “If we build AI systems trained on foreign data, we risk creating technologies that do not understand our realities,” he cautioned.
He reminded the audience of a painful lesson from history: during the industrial revolutions, Africa supplied the raw materials that powered global industries but gained little in return. “It wasn’t because we lacked resources or talent, but because we lacked collaboration and structural integration,” he noted. “This time, we must lead, not follow.”
From Policy to Practice
During another panel session, “Shaping Africa’s Digital Future: Policy and Regulatory Frameworks for Accelerated Growth,” Inuwa shared his philosophy for sustainable transformation: dream big, but build small.
He explained that innovation in Africa must be practical and scalable, solutions that solve local problems while keeping an eye on continental and global impact.
“The solution you design for your village or city can scale to serve your state, your country, and even the world. That’s how every major tech company began,” he said, citing Facebook’s humble beginnings as an example.
But beyond technology, Inuwa emphasized a new form of governance, one rooted in collaboration, inclusiveness, and data-driven policymaking.
“We need to reinvent our social contract,” he asserted. “Policymaking can’t happen in isolation. When policies are crafted without the input of the actual builders, innovators, civil society, academia, they fail to produce real results.”
To change that, NITDA has introduced what Inuwa calls the Intelligent Regulatory Framework, an approach built on awareness, inclusiveness, and adaptability. “Effective policies must evolve with new data. They must be agile, open to innovation, and responsive to change,” he said.
A practical example, he noted, is the development of Nigeria’s National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, co-created with experts across sectors, from civil society to academia to private industry. “That’s how policymaking should be: ecosystem-driven, evidence-based, and inclusive.”
Africa’s Next Chapter
As the event drew to a close, Inuwa’s words lingered, a reminder that Africa’s readiness for AI is not a question of if, but how fast the continent can align its people, policies, and partnerships.
“Technology doesn’t respect borders or hierarchies,” Inuwa said. “It connects and transforms. If we build together, Africa won’t just catch up, it will lead.”
