Microsoft has called on Nigeria to move beyond developing artificial intelligence strategies and begin focusing on practical implementation that delivers measurable results across government, industry, and society. The company stressed that while Nigeria has made progress in AI policy formulation, the next phase must be about turning plans into real-world outcomes that improve lives and strengthen the economy.
The message was delivered by Mrs. Nonye Ujam, Director of Government Affairs for West Africa at Microsoft, during the AI Summit Nigeria held in Abuja. The event, organised in partnership with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and MTN under the theme “From Policy to Progress: Accelerating Responsible AI Adoption for Nigeria’s Digital Decade,” brought together key stakeholders from both the public and private sectors.
Ujam noted that Nigeria is already positioning itself as a leader in Africa’s AI development through initiatives such as the National AI Strategy, improved data governance frameworks, and ongoing regulatory reforms. However, she emphasized that the real challenge now is operationalising these frameworks in ways that create tangible value. According to her, this requires strong systems, infrastructure, institutional capacity, and governance structures that can support AI at scale.
She also stressed the importance of building “trusted AI,” arguing that innovation must be grounded in local realities and guided by principles such as fairness, transparency, privacy, accountability, and security. Ujam added that AI has the potential to significantly enhance public service delivery, expand access to knowledge, and boost productivity, but only if public trust is maintained and systems are designed responsibly.
Speaking at the same event, NITDA Director-General Kashifu Inuwa—represented by Emmanuel Edet—reinforced the need for Nigeria to build digital sovereignty rather than remain dependent on foreign-developed AI systems. He stated that Nigeria has the talent to lead Africa’s AI economy and must invest in local research, human capital, and innovation ecosystems to ensure long-term competitiveness. Inuwa added that the future of AI should not just happen in Africa but be shaped by Africa itself, as stakeholders from agencies like the Nigeria Customs Service, NIMC, and Galaxy Backbone also joined discussions on scaling responsible AI adoption nationwide.