The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has said Nigeria is at a defining moment where disruptive technologies, shifting economic realities, and evolving governance structures are reshaping enterprises.
He made this statement while delivering a keynote address at the 3rd Biennial Corporate Governance and Enterprise Development Conference in Lagos on the theme “Redefining Enterprise Leadership in a Changing Nigeria: AI, Protectionism, and Governance in Focus.”
Abdullahi praised the resilience of Nigerian entrepreneurs but cautioned that informal, organic growth is no longer enough in today’s fast-changing environment. He urged business leaders to adopt what he described as “purpose-driven, performance-focused, and principle-led approaches” in order to remain competitive.
Sharing insights from NITDA’s own transformation process, he outlined five guiding principles for leadership. These include creating clarity, unleashing energy, building trust, winning today, and shaping tomorrow. He emphasized the need for cultural reorientation, aligning strategies with staff performance, and fostering innovation as key tools for enterprises to sustain relevance.
On artificial intelligence, Abdullahi described AI as a transformative “thought partner” that can help shape strategies and solutions. However, he warned about risks such as misinformation, stressing the importance of responsible adoption, reskilling, and co-intelligence models that combine human and machine strengths.
Addressing the issue of protectionism, he stated that tariffs and restrictions cannot shield enterprises in an interconnected global economy. Instead, he advocated for strengthening digital sovereignty through measures like data protection, talent development, and governance reforms.
He concluded by calling for balance, saying, “Nigeria must responsibly embrace technology, safeguard digital assets, and reform governance to turn challenges into opportunities and secure long-term competitiveness for its enterprises.”