The Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has called on African countries to move from policy discussions to concrete action in developing the infrastructure needed to support artificial intelligence (AI) across the continent.
Abdullahi made the call while speaking during a panel session titled “Africa’s AI Compute Capacity — Sovereign or Shared” at GITEX Nigeria 2026.
He said Africa’s ability to take advantage of AI would depend largely on its capacity to provide the computing infrastructure and reliable power required to run AI systems.
According to him, the growing use of AI is putting pressure on the continent’s computing capacity, while inadequate and unreliable electricity remains one of the major obstacles to developing the sector.
He said African countries must therefore address their infrastructure and energy challenges if they are to build sustainable AI ecosystems.
The NITDA boss also advocated stronger cooperation among African countries, urging governments to move away from isolated efforts and adopt a coordinated approach to digital development.
He cited the European Union and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as examples of regional cooperation that could provide a model for creating an integrated digital market.
Abdullahi said such collaboration could help attract investment and support the development of infrastructure for AI and other emerging technologies.
He also stressed the need for effective data classification as part of efforts to protect Africa’s digital sovereignty.
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The NITDA director-general said sensitive information relating to defence, healthcare and financial services required appropriate protection and legal safeguards.
He identified Nigeria’s Data Protection Act and recently issued sovereign cloud regulatory instruments as measures aimed at establishing clearer rules for managing different categories of data.
Abdullahi said Africa had reached a point where policies and commitments needed to be translated into practical infrastructure.
“We have had enough talk and conventions. What we need now is action, as nations and as a continent, to build the infrastructure that will secure our digital future,” he said.
About the Author
Cecilia Attah is a tech analyst with a degree from Benue State University. She covers tech news and startups at TechRegard with a focus on how technology is transforming Africa and shaping the global landscape.
