The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to building an inclusive, innovation-driven artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem. The agency made this declaration during the official launch of the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition (ESBC)-INNOPOWER Free MSMEs AI Master Trainer Programme, an event hosted at the United Nations House in Abuja that brought together key stakeholders from government, industry, and development organizations.
Speaking on behalf of the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, the Director of Digital Development Services, Mr. Oladejo Olawunmi, emphasized that AI is no longer a technology of the future, but a defining force of the present that is actively reshaping global economies and industries. He noted that the joint initiative reflects a shared commitment to equipping Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with essential digital skills, positioning Nigeria to become an active producer of innovative solutions rather than merely a consumer of foreign emerging technologies.
To drive this vision, NITDA is actively implementing the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which focuses on strengthening AI infrastructure, fostering a world-class innovation ecosystem, and accelerating responsible AI adoption across critical sectors. Inuwa highlighted several key initiatives supporting this goal, including the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), the Nigeria AI Collective, the N-ATLAS multilingual large language model, the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) programme, and the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative.
Emphasizing the vital role of local enterprises, the Director General described small businesses as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy. He pointed out that MSMEs stand to gain immensely from AI integration through increased productivity, workflow automation, and expanded market opportunities, noting that Africa’s ultimate technological success relies heavily on sustained investments in people, institutions, and strategic partnerships.
Inuwa commended INNOPOWER and the ESBC for creating a collaborative platform to advance responsible AI adoption and empower entrepreneurs across Nigeria and the wider ECOWAS region. He further stressed the necessity of building sovereign digital infrastructure, preserving indigenous languages within AI models, and expanding digital literacy to ensure every citizen can participate in the nation’s digital transformation.
Looking to the future, Inuwa asserted that Africa stands at a critical juncture in its technological evolution and must seize the momentum to build globally competitive solutions. He concluded that history favors nations with the foresight to invest in their people and build ecosystems that turn ideas into economic prosperity, reaffirming NITDA’s resolve to collaborate with academia, industry, and government partners.
In his welcome address, the Regional President of the ESBC, Dr. Abdulrashid Yerima, framed the MSME AI Master Trainer Programme as a strategic investment in Africa’s human capital. He stated that equipping trainers with practical AI skills will generate quality jobs, accelerate sustainable industrial development, and urged stakeholders across financial, public, and private sectors to collaborate in building an AI-driven economy that enhances the continent’s global competitiveness.
DG NITDA’s rep, Director Digital Development Services, Mr Oladejo Olawunmi, giving his goodwill message at the Official Launch of the ESBC/Innopower Free MSMEs AI Training Programme held in Abuja .
Leave a Reply