The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, was a featured speaker at the prestigious TransformBase AI Forum held at King’s Place, London. The forum, meticulously organized by EdenBase, attracted over 250 senior leaders and forward-thinking individuals to explore the future of emerging technologies, with a particular focus on AI, quantum computing, immersive technologies (AR/VR), blockchain, and 5G/6G.
During a fireside discussion skillfully moderated by Eric Van der Kleij, Co-Founder and Partner at EdenBase and TransformBase, Director-General Inuwa delved into the theme “Tech Nation Africa: From skills to investment to international connections – a strategy unfolds.”
In his insightful address, Inuwa shared the transformative journey of NITDA in shaping Nigeria’s IT strategy. He shed light on the agency’s strategic development, supervision, and utilization of emerging technologies for societal benefit. Providing crucial insights, he discussed the continent’s potential to capitalize on its comparative advantages, such as market size and a young, talented population. Inuwa emphasized how digital literacy and emerging technologies could act as catalysts for the economic transformation of the region.
In a proactive move, Director-General Inuwa extended an open invitation to investors present, urging them to explore opportunities in Africa’s largest economy. He highlighted the conducive regulatory frameworks and policies, including the Nigeria Startup Act 2022, the National Digital Literacy Framework, and the recent Strategic Blueprint issued by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy.
The TransformBase AI Forum proved to be a platform for thought leadership and collaboration, fostering dialogue on the intersection of technology, investment, and international connections. Director-General Inuwa’s keynote address added valuable perspectives to the ongoing discourse on leveraging emerging technologies for Africa’s digital and economic advancement.