Nigeria is co-creating its artificial intelligence (AI) governance framework with innovators, startups, and stakeholders to ensure responsible adoption and inclusive growth, according to the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Speaking at the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance engagement in Abuja, NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, said the country’s AI policy is being developed “hand in hand with innovators, industry leaders, and the global community.”
He noted that the framework aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises digitalisation and inclusivity. Nigeria has already launched its National Multilingual Large Language Model in New York, aimed at embedding local culture and languages in AI solutions.
“As part of our inclusivity mandate, all NITDA-led programmes require at least 40 percent women’s participation,” Inuwa said, adding that AI will complement — not replace — human effort across healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, and education.
Nigeria is also pushing regional leadership through the Nigerian Atlas for Languages & AI at Scale (N-ATLAS), an open-source multilingual model developed with Awarri Technologies. Designed to preserve more than 500 Nigerian languages, it offers datasets for education, commerce, and governance while providing a framework for other African countries.
“Our journey is not just about technology, it’s about people, prosperity, and positioning Nigeria as a global leader in shaping the AI future,” Inuwa
