The government’s strategy for artificial intelligence (AI) emphasizes data classification, determining what must remain within the country and what can be safely hosted on public cloud platforms.
National AI Initiatives
Kachifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Director-General of NITDA, highlighted that Nigeria has developed the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy and the Standard for AI Adoption, while also testing an Ethical Standard for AI Deployment. He noted that the forthcoming Online Harm Protection Bill will align regulations for both online and offline spaces, ensuring a harmonized legal framework.
Abdullahi stressed that AI systems must be retrained to reflect Nigeria’s cultural, societal, and economic realities. Without this localization, digital systems risk making decisions that overlook local contexts. To address this, Nigeria is developing its own large language models and building systems that prioritize societal needs while maintaining data classification to balance national security with cloud adoption.
Cloud First Strategy and Local Talent Development
The government’s Cloud First strategy is designed to attract hyperscalers to establish data centres in Nigeria, fostering local talent and positioning the country as a hub for AI and data centre infrastructure in Africa. This approach ensures a careful balance between data sovereignty and regional collaboration.
AI Governance and Regulatory Intelligence
Abdullahi emphasized that emerging technologies cannot rely solely on existing laws. Nigeria has therefore developed a regulatory intelligence framework to guide AI adoption, focusing on collaboration, practical use cases, and iterative development before implementing formal regulation.
Expanding Digital Access Nationwide
Beyond AI, NITDA is implementing a broad initiative to establish at least 1,600 ICT centres across Nigeria, ensuring digital inclusion for all citizens. Over the past two years, 222 ICT facilities have already been established, including community centres, school labs equipped with ICT tools, and innovation hubs. The agency aims to provide digital infrastructure and skills to every Nigerian, regardless of social or economic status, as part of its commitment to equitable technological development.
