The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has disclosed that Nigeria is shifting from policy formulation to the implementation phase of its national Artificial Intelligence (AI) strategy.
Abdullahi, who represented the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, made this known at the Global Partnership for Human-Centric ICT Standardisation (GIST) Nigeria Introductory Stakeholder Workshop held in Abuja.
According to him, the country has already developed a comprehensive AI strategy and is now focused on translating it into actionable outcomes. He explained that the next phase will involve the rollout of structured guidelines and regulatory frameworks to ensure that AI deployment in Nigeria is anchored on strong safeguards and ethical considerations.
He further revealed that, as part of the broader digital transformation agenda, the government is advancing data classification initiatives aimed at providing clean and reliable datasets for AI training. This, he noted, is critical to improving the accuracy and effectiveness of AI systems.
In addition, Abdullahi highlighted ongoing efforts to promote the adoption of cloud technologies across public institutions, noting that such integration will enhance operational efficiency, scalability, and service delivery.
The workshop brought together key stakeholders to explore collaborative approaches to human-centric ICT standardisation, as Nigeria continues to position itself as a leading player in the global digital economy.