TLDR: At GITEX Nigeria 2025, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Hon. Bosun Tijani, emphasized the critical role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in driving Nigeria’s digital future. They called for pan-African collaboration on AI infrastructure, talent development, and the creation of locally relevant AI models to ensure the continent leads, rather than lags, in the global AI revolution. Challenges such as infrastructure gaps and policy frameworks were also addressed.
Abuja, Nigeria – The inaugural GITEX Nigeria Summit 2025 served as a pivotal platform for Nigeria to articulate its vision for an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven future, with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy leading the charge. Held from September 1 to 4 in Abuja and Lagos, the event underscored the transformative potential of AI across various key Nigerian sectors.
Hon. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, delivered a compelling keynote address, urging African nations to proactively embrace AI. He warned against the perils of inaction, stating, “The risk for Africa is clear; if we are not deliberate, AI will widen the global productivity gap. Countries already ahead will move even faster, and those of us still catching up will find ourselves even further behind.” Tijani, recently recognized by TIME magazine as one of the most influential people in AI 2025, highlighted that nations globally are leveraging AI for automation, data analysis, and resource optimization. He stressed that Africa must transition from being a consumer-centric continent to a producer, leader, and innovator in AI, asserting, “AI must sit at the very centre of our strategy.”
The Minister outlined four crucial pillars for Africa’s AI future: fostering a balance between sovereignty and shared governance, equipping young people with essential technical skills, digitizing local realities to build relevant datasets, and collectively investing in critical infrastructure such as connectivity, compute power, and clean energy. He championed Nigeria’s ‘3 Million Technical Talent’ (3MTT) program as a model for preparing the workforce for an AI-driven economy, emphasizing that “Africa’s young people are our greatest advantage.”
Echoing this sentiment, Kashifu Inuwa, the Director-General and CEO of NITDA, delivered the welcome address, advocating for stronger collaboration among African nations to build shared AI infrastructure. Inuwa emphasized that the AI era presents a unique opportunity for Africa to shift from a marginal role in previous industrial revolutions to a global driver of digital innovation. He cited research by Epoch AI, projecting that automation and AI adoption could boost global economic growth by 20 percent and potentially double the world economy within five years, underscoring that “Any country left behind in this AI revolution risks catastrophe, while those who lead will shape the world.”
NITDA’s vision, as articulated by Inuwa, prioritizes human capital development through initiatives like the 3MTT program and the Digital Literacy for All initiative. He also stressed the imperative for robust infrastructure, including expanded connectivity, modern data centers, and high-performance computing, to ensure data is processed locally and data sovereignty is protected. Furthermore, Inuwa urged the development of African Large Language Models (LLMs) to reflect the continent’s diverse cultures and values, stating, “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 cultural heritage in the age of AI.” Nigeria has already funded 45 AI-focused startups to accelerate innovation.
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Despite the ambitious outlook, the summit also brought to light significant challenges. The infrastructure gap, particularly concerning access to Graphics Processing Units (GPUs), was identified as a major technical hurdle for startups. Policy, regulation, and trust were highlighted as critical blockers slowing AI infrastructure development in Nigeria, necessitating clear frameworks, strong cybersecurity defenses, and a digitally skilled workforce. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu affirmed Lagos’s commitment to building Nigeria’s AI-driven future by actively scaling startups and developing digital infrastructure.
