Nigeria is stepping up efforts to strengthen national control over artificial intelligence, data and the digital infrastructure underpinning its economy, as GITEX Nigeria 2026 puts technological sovereignty at the centre of discussions in Abuja and Lagos.
The second edition of GITEX Nigeria, held from August 31 to September 3, has brought together government officials, technology companies, investors, startups and regulators to discuss the country’s digital transformation and its ambitions to become a major technology hub in Africa. The event’s Government Leadership & AI Summit in Abuja focused in particular on sovereign AI, data governance and digital infrastructure.
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, director-general of Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), said artificial intelligence should be treated as strategic infrastructure rather than simply as another technological tool.
For Nigeria, he argued, sovereignty over AI must extend across the entire technology chain, including internet connectivity, computing capacity, data centres, cloud infrastructure, data governance and AI models.
The concern is not only technological. Nigerian officials increasingly view control over data and AI systems as a matter of economic resilience, national security and the protection of citizens, particularly as AI becomes more deeply integrated into sectors such as finance, healthcare and education.
The government is therefore seeking to reduce dependence on foreign digital infrastructure while encouraging the development of domestic capabilities. Officials have also called for greater Nigerian ownership of AI technologies, algorithms and data, arguing that the country needs the capacity to develop systems adapted to its own economic, cultural and social environment.
Nigeria’s strategy is being supported by several major initiatives. Project BRIDGE is targeting the deployment of about 90,000 kilometres of fibre-optic infrastructure, while the 3 Million Technical Talent programme is being used to expand the country’s pool of technology professionals. The government has also introduced a National Digital Cloud Policy aimed at attracting $750 million in private investment into cloud and data infrastructure over the next 24 months.
The push for greater digital sovereignty comes as Nigeria seeks to move beyond its role as a large consumer market for foreign technology. Government officials say the objective is to build, own and eventually export digital products and artificial intelligence solutions.
The challenge, however, extends beyond regulation. Achieving meaningful AI sovereignty will require substantial investment in computing power, data centres, reliable electricity, connectivity, cybersecurity and highly skilled workers.
The Nigerian government is also working on a national artificial intelligence strategy and regulatory frameworks designed to guide AI adoption and promote responsible deployment. According to NITDA, the country is seeking to develop homegrown large language models capable of reflecting Nigeria’s cultural context and national priorities.
For Nigeria, the debate emerging from GITEX is therefore about more than artificial intelligence. It is about who controls the infrastructure, data and technologies that will increasingly determine economic competitiveness and national security.
As African economies accelerate their adoption of AI, Nigeria is positioning digital sovereignty as a strategic priority with the ambition of becoming not only a major technology market, but also a producer and owner of the technologies shaping the continent’s digital future.
