By Chinenye Anuforo
The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has called on African countries to strengthen their data sovereignty and computing infrastructure in order to fully harness the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Speaking in Lagos during a panel session titled, “Shaping Africa’s Digital Future: Policy and Regulatory Frameworks for Accelerated Growth” at Hyperscalers Convergence Africa 2025, Abdullahi warned that dependence on foreign technologies and fragmented policies could slow Africa’s digital advancement.
“The big question is how can we harness AI? One of Africa’s major challenges is policy fragmentation and uncertainty. That’s why most global tech giants hesitate to invest and build here. But do we have to wait for them? Can’t we build it ourselves?” he asked.
The NITDA DG noted that Africa’s limited legacy infrastructure offers a rare advantage — the ability to leapfrog directly into AI-driven development built on local realities.
“We need to develop our own datasets. The AI systems we build must use African data, not imported ones. And we need local computing power to support that vision,” Abdullahi said.
Drawing a parallel with Africa’s mobile revolution, he reminded the audience that local innovators once overcame skepticism to build solar-powered networks in regions without electricity.
“When people doubted that Africans would adopt mobile phones, pioneers built the networks from the ground up. We can do the same with AI,” he said.
Abdullahi also emphasized the importance of inclusive and collaborative policymaking to attract investment and ensure sustainability.
“Policy-making should not happen behind closed doors. It should involve industry players, innovators, and civil society. Otherwise, such policies end up gathering dust on the shelf,” he cautioned.
He cited Nigeria’s National AI Strategy as a model developed through broad stakeholder engagement, bringing together local experts and practitioners to craft practical, globally competitive frameworks.
As major powers such as the US, China, and Europe race to dominate generative AI and advanced computing, Abdullahi said Africa must chart its own course.
“Africa must recognize its potential. We don’t need to choose sides between the West and the East. We can build our own systems and engage both to achieve our development goals,” he concluded.
