NITDA Rallies MSMEs to Embrace AI, Unveils Drive to Build Nigeria's Digital Future

Oladejo Olawunmi
Director, Digital Development Services NITDA 

.... As Kashifu Inuwa, DG NITDA describes artificial intelligence as a transformative technology already reshaping economies, industries and governance across the world.

.... Says "the AI Master Trainer Programme reflects a shared commitment to equipping Nigerian entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills required to remain competitive in an increasingly digital economy.

"AI is no longer a technology of the future but a defining force of the present, offering Nigeria a unique opportunity to drive innovation, improve productivity and accelerate economic growth."

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to positioning Nigeria as a global player in artificial intelligence (AI), declaring that the country is determined to become a creator of AI solutions rather than merely a consumer of emerging technologies.

The commitment was reiterated at the official launch of the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition (ESBC)-INNOPOWER Free MSMEs AI Master Trainer Programme held at the United Nations House in Abuja, by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) where government officials, development partners and industry stakeholders gathered to promote AI adoption among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Representing the Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, the Director of Digital Development Services, Mr. Oladejo Olawunmi, described artificial intelligence as a transformative technology already reshaping economies, industries and governance across the world.

He said the AI Master Trainer Programme reflects a shared commitment to equipping Nigerian entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills required to remain competitive in an increasingly digital economy.

According to him, AI is no longer a technology of the future but a defining force of the present, offering Nigeria a unique opportunity to drive innovation, improve productivity and accelerate economic growth.

Inuwa disclosed that NITDA is implementing the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy to strengthen AI infrastructure, deepen innovation, encourage responsible AI development and establish a governance framework that ensures the technology benefits society.

He stressed that Nigeria has deliberately chosen to build the foundations for a thriving AI ecosystem instead of depending solely on technologies developed elsewhere.

The NITDA boss highlighted several flagship initiatives supporting the agency's vision, 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.

He noted that MSMEs, which remain the backbone of Nigeria's economy, stand to gain significantly from AI through increased productivity, automation, innovation and access to wider markets.

Inuwa further emphasised that Africa's success in the AI economy would depend on sustained investments in digital infrastructure, human capital and strategic partnerships, rather than simply consuming foreign AI technologies.

He also underscored the need to develop sovereign digital infrastructure, preserve indigenous languages within AI systems and expand digital literacy to ensure that all Nigerians benefit from the country's digital transformation.

According to him, history has shown that nations that invest in their people and innovation ecosystems are best positioned to lead during technological revolutions, assuring that NITDA would continue collaborating with government, academia and the private sector to build a resilient and globally competitive AI ecosystem.

Earlier, the Regional President of the ESBC, Abdulrashid Yerima, described the MSME AI Master Trainer Programme as a strategic investment in Africa's human capital.

He said the initiative is designed to equip trainers with practical AI skills that will empower entrepreneurs, strengthen small businesses, create quality jobs and drive sustainable industrial development across the ECOWAS region.

Yerima urged participants to maximise the opportunities provided by the programme while calling for stronger collaboration among governments, development partners, financial institutions, academia and the private sector to build an inclusive AI-driven economy capable of enhancing Africa's global competitiveness.