Reported by: Agande Richard Aondofa | Edited by: Henry Owen
Africa is standing on the brink of a digital revolution, a moment where the continent’s youthful population, creativity, and technological ambition could reshape the global innovation landscape. This was the message delivered by Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), during the Hyperscalers Convergence Africa 2025 panel session in Lagos titled, “From Mobile First to AI-Ready: Will Africa Deliver on Innovation?”
Inuwa emphasized that Africa’s challenges are opportunities in disguise and highlighted the continent’s youth as a strategic asset that must be equipped with the right digital skills. He pointed to initiatives such as the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, designed to empower young Africans to lead in the emerging digital economy.
“While developed nations use AI to optimise systems, Africa can deploy it to solve practical problems in healthcare, agriculture, and small business growth,” Inuwa said, describing the approach as a Greenfield Opportunity. He urged African nations to build AI-ready infrastructure that leverages past successes in mobile technology.
The NITDA DG also stressed the Federal Government’s commitment to public-private collaboration, citing the GDP Policy on Mediation and Project Bridge and plans to develop a National Digital Public Infrastructure integrating identity, payments, and data platforms.
Reflecting on history, Inuwa noted that Africa had missed out on previous Industrial Revolutions despite supplying raw materials and labour, leaving the continent shortchanged in global industrial gains.
“This time, we must collaborate, integrate, and innovate together,” he said.
The remarks highlight Africa’s determination to leverage technology and innovation to achieve sustainable development and compete on the global digital stage.
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