Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), took center stage alongside global tech leaders at GITEX Africa 2025 in Marrakech, Morocco, where he delivered a compelling vision for how data-driven and intelligence-led strategies can redefine business innovation and national development.
Participating in the high-level panel titled “Harnessing AI for Strategic Leadership,” Inuwa emphasized that artificial intelligence is not just a tool but a transformational force capable of reshaping industries, enhancing public service delivery, and unlocking new economic frontiers across Africa. He highlighted that for AI to truly deliver on its promise, organizations must integrate both human creativity and technological intelligence into their strategic thinking and operational execution.
“AI should augment—not replace—human intelligence. True strategic leadership lies in the ability to harmonize the human and machine elements to deliver sustainable, inclusive, and impactful value,” Inuwa said.
Drawing from Nigeria’s own digital transformation roadmap and NITDA’s strategic pillars, Inuwa pointed to initiatives that aim to build digital trust, foster talent development, support innovation ecosystems, and ensure that digital technologies align with national goals and ethical principles.
He stressed that privacy and security must serve as foundational guardrails in the development and deployment of AI solutions. Inuwa explained that without strong governance frameworks and data protection policies, the benefits of AI risk being undermined by misuse, bias, and societal mistrust.
“As we integrate AI into mission-critical areas of our economy, we must adopt a principles-based approach—ensuring transparency, accountability, and fairness,” he noted. “The future of AI in Africa must be built on trust, responsibility, and relevance to our unique contexts.”
Inuwa also called for greater collaboration among African nations, urging governments, academia, startups, and the private sector to work together in shaping a future where AI accelerates inclusive growth. He spoke on the importance of localizing AI models to reflect African languages, cultures, and real-world problems, while fostering policies that support innovation and cross-border cooperation.
During the session, Inuwa also spotlighted the role of Nigeria’s National AI Strategy, which aims to position the country as a leading hub for ethical and innovative AI adoption in Africa. This includes investments in infrastructure, research, AI literacy, and public-private partnerships to scale emerging technologies.
As GITEX Africa 2025 continues to grow as a continental platform for showcasing innovation and forging partnerships, Inuwa’s contribution reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to leading Africa’s digital economy transformation and ensuring that emerging technologies are deployed with purpose, inclusivity, and sustainability at their core.
