Sanwo-Olu, Tijani, Kashifu Urge Digital Innovation as GITEX Nigeria Opens
The maiden edition of GITEX Nigeria, on Monday, opened in Abuja with strong calls for Africa to embrace artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and precision agriculture as tools to close the continent’s productivity gap and position it as a global innovation hub.
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, in his keynote address, said Africa must adopt AI models that reflect its unique realities, including local languages, health systems, and farming practices.
“There is a world where Africa will bring diversity into AI. For ChatGPT or any other model to be strong, it must understand the reality of everyone,” Tijani said.
He added that Africa should not consider itself disadvantaged by weak infrastructure but must demand inclusivity in global AI development to ensure African data and realities are represented.
The minister stressed that productivity is key to competitiveness, warning that Africa risks remaining a consumer continent if it fails to harness AI.
He called for medium- and long-term infrastructure plans that expand connectivity and access to clean energy, making digital adoption affordable.
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Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, described AI as the engine of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
He said Africa must urgently build capacity in policy, infrastructure, and human capital to avoid being left behind.
“We need shared infrastructure and local algorithms that reflect our culture. Nigeria is already making progress through initiatives in digital literacy, data centers, and projects like ‘Project Reach’ to connect the unconnected,” Abdullahi said, noting the importance of partnerships with big tech and funding for AI research.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also addressed the gathering, affirming Lagos’ role as Nigeria’s innovation hub.
He said the state government is investing heavily in broadband infrastructure, startup support, and tech-friendly policies to boost the digital economy.
“Lagos is home to Nigeria’s most vibrant startup ecosystem, and we are committed to creating an enabling environment where ideas can thrive. GITEX Nigeria is a platform to demonstrate how subnational governments can drive innovation in line with the federal government’s vision,” Sanwo-Olu stated.
Day one of the conference also highlighted the government’s human capital development agenda, particularly the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme aimed at equipping Nigerian youth with globally relevant digital skills.
