At the heart of this momentum is Nigeria, a country redefining what it means to lead in the digital age. With strategic investments in infrastructure, digital education, and AI-driven innovation, Nigeria is not only transforming its own economy but also laying the foundation for a new era of African technological leadership. Its vision is clear: to shift from passive technology adoption to active global contribution.
This digital transformation is being driven with precision and intent. From embedding AI education in school curricula to building sovereign infrastructure and supporting homegrown startups, Nigeria is creating a tech ecosystem that reflects its values, languages, and people. By doing so, it is offering a powerful template for other African nations to follow—rooted in self-reliance, collaboration, and inclusive innovation.
In a conversation with Global South Pole, Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General National Information Technology Development Agency of Nigeria (NITDA), outlined the country’s bold AI strategy anchored in talent development, local innovation, and digital sovereignty. This is a model for African leadership on the global stage. He emphasized that people, not just machines, are central to the future of AI.
“We believe in AI, it’s not just about technology, talent is a key component. Technology makes our lives better, but people make the technology better […] So, we believe Nigeria, not just for Nigeria and Africa, globally we can be an active player when it comes to supplying talent to the global AI ecosystem,” he said.
To listen to the whole conversation with the Nigerian official, tune in to the Global South Pole podcast, brought to you by Sputnik Africa.
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