The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called for a stronger Nigerian control over artificial intelligence, data and digital infrastructure at the opening of GITEX Nigeria 2026 in Abuja.
The Director-General,NITDA, Mallam Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, made this call at the second edition of GITEX Nigeria 2026 in Abuja, where government officials and technology leaders gathered to discuss the country’s digital transformation and artificial intelligence ambitions.
He said Nigeria’s approach to AI sovereignty should cover the wider technology infrastructure required to develop and operate AI systems.
In his address, he identified key areas that require attention such as; connectivity, computing capacity, data centres, cloud infrastructure, data governance and AI models. According to him, greater ownership of AI technologies, algorithms and data would help Nigeria develop systems capable of addressing the country’s specific economic and social needs.
Kashifu buttressed the importance of greater ownership of AI technologies in critical sectors such as finance, healthcare and education, warning that a lack of control over such systems could expose the country to external influence and manipulation. According to him, the recent signing of regulatory instruments on cloud and data sovereignty demonstrates one of the efforts being made to strengthen Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and encourage investment in local data centres.
He pointed this out as one of the Federal Government’s efforts in moving the country from being a consumer of technology to becoming a builder, producer and exporter of digital solutions and artificial intelligence.
GITEX Nigeria, West Africa’s largest technology and startup event, hosts global technology leaders, government policymakers, investors, startups and enterprise decision-makers to accelerate digital transformation across Africa’s largest economy. The event is part of the global GITEX network of technology and startup events spanning Brazil, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Singapore, Italy, Türkiye, the UAE, Vietnam and more.
The GITEX Nigeria 2026 event opened in Abuja and is scheduled to continue in Lagos from September 2 to 3 with programmes focused on artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, startups and the future of the digital economy.
