Nigeria to develop indigenous AI systems – NITDA DG

From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its resolve to develop indigenous Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems, raising concerns over bias in many global AI platforms that often under-represent African data and local realities.

Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, disclosed this while delivering a virtual address at the InnovateAI Conference in Lagos, according to a statement issued yesterday.

Inuwa said Nigeria can no longer remain a passive consumer of foreign-built AI technologies, but must take deliberate steps to architect and build homegrown systems that reflect its culture, languages and development priorities.

He explained that many global AI models are trained predominantly on non-African datasets, resulting in limited representation of local dialects, demographics and socio-cultural nuances.

According to him, this imbalance often produces biased outcomes that fail to serve Nigeria’s needs effectively.

The NITDA boss stressed that building indigenous AI systems is central to achieving data sovereignty and ensuring the country retains control over how its data is collected, processed and deployed. He noted that Nigeria’s AI ambition extends beyond innovation to governance, infrastructure development and policy evolution under the National AI Strategy.

Inuwa emphasised the need for adaptive regulatory frameworks capable of evolving alongside rapidly advancing technologies. He said responsible AI development requires a lifecycle approach, from data collection and governance to deployment and continuous feedback, to ensure transparency, accountability and trust.

He also called for strategic partnerships with global technology firms and hyperscalers, stating that while collaboration is necessary, such engagements must align with Nigeria’s national priorities and local context.

He said: “Our goal is not just to use AI, but to architect and build our own AI systems in Nigeria. Responsible AI is never a finished job; it is an iterative journey. Our policies must evolve as the technology evolves, and we must avoid frozen laws by adopting living policies that adapt over time.”