Nigeria is placing AI sovereignty at the centre of its digital transformation agenda as GITEX Nigeria 2026 opens in Abuja, with government officials calling for greater Nigerian control over artificial intelligence, data, cloud infrastructure and the technologies powering the digital economy. The event runs from August 31 to September 3 across Abuja and Lagos.
The push for AI sovereignty in Nigeria comes as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly important to sectors including finance, healthcare, education, agriculture and government services. Officials argue that Nigeria cannot afford to become heavily dependent on foreign technologies while the country’s digital economy continues to expand.
NITDA Calls for Greater Nigerian Control of AI.
Speaking at the opening of GITEX Nigeria 2026, NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi said Nigeria must develop the capacity to control the wider technology ecosystem supporting artificial intelligence.
He said AI sovereignty goes beyond developing individual AI applications. According to the NITDA chief, Nigeria needs stronger control over connectivity, computing infrastructure, data centres, cloud services, algorithms and data governance if it is to achieve genuine digital sovereignty.
Inuwa also warned that excessive reliance on foreign AI systems could create risks for Nigeria’s economy and national security, particularly when artificial intelligence is deployed in sensitive areas such as finance, healthcare and education.
Nigeria Targets Local AI Infrastructure.
The Nigeria AI sovereignty strategy is closely connected to the country’s plans to expand digital infrastructure. Government officials are emphasising the importance of locally hosted data centres, cloud infrastructure and high-speed connectivity as the foundation for a stronger Nigerian AI ecosystem.
The government has also highlighted Project BRIDGE, which aims to expand fibre-optic connectivity across Nigeria. The initiative is expected to provide the infrastructure needed to connect more communities while supporting data-intensive technologies such as artificial intelligence.
The Federal Government is separately targeting $750 million in private investment in Nigeria’s cloud and data infrastructure over the next two years, signalling an effort to attract international capital while increasing domestic digital capacity.
GITEX Nigeria Puts Africa’s AI Ambitions in Focus.
The discussions at GITEX Nigeria 2026 extend beyond Nigeria. African governments and technology leaders are increasingly debating how the continent can move from being a consumer of imported technology to becoming a producer of AI systems, digital services and technological infrastructure.
Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani has argued that Africa must use artificial intelligence to increase productivity and develop solutions based on African realities. NITDA has similarly called for greater cooperation between African countries on AI infrastructure and skills development.
The Battle for Digital Sovereignty.
The debate over AI sovereignty is becoming increasingly important as countries around the world compete for control over the infrastructure and data required to develop advanced artificial intelligence.
For Nigeria, the challenge will be converting policy ambitions into practical investments in computing capacity, research, talent, data centres and locally developed AI systems. Without those foundations, digital sovereignty could remain a policy objective rather than an economic reality.
GITEX Nigeria 2026 has therefore become more than a technology exhibition. It is providing Nigeria with a platform to define its position in the global AI race and to push for greater African ownership of the infrastructure, data and intelligence that will shape the next phase of the digital economy.
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