NITDA urges Nigeria youths to build local AI

By Ejire Folakunmi

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has challenged young Nigerians to lead the development of home-grown artificial intelligence solutions to address the country’s unique socio-economic challenges.

Delivering the keynote address at an AI Hackathon organized by NITDA in partnership with VibeCode Africa in Abuja, the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, represented by Mrs. Udoka Mannie, stated that Nigeria’s youthful population presents a major opportunity for digital transformation.

With over 60% of Nigerians under the age of 25, Inuwa noted that the country is positioned to benefit significantly from emerging technologies.

“The future of AI in Nigeria will not be imported. It will be built by people like you in rooms like this,” Inuwa said, urging participants to move from being passive consumers to active creators.

He highlighted NITDA’s Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) initiative, which aims for 95% digital literacy by 2030, but emphasized that the agency is now pushing for "capability," the ability to build with technology rather than just use it.

Inuwa identified healthcare, agriculture, education, and financial inclusion as key sectors where AI can deliver transformative results, while also stressing the importance of ethics and data protection.

Earlier, the founder of VibeCode Africa, Lola Adey, encouraged participants to look within their own communities to identify problems to solve. Unlike previous years where sectors were assigned, this edition tasked teams with developing solutions for challenges they personally experience, such as electricity shortages or insecurity.

“With artificial intelligence, you now have something in your hand that you can use to actually solve problems. You don’t have to wait for anybody anymore,” Adey stated.