The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has called on young Nigerians to move beyond consuming technology and begin building solutions capable of addressing the country’s pressing socio-economic challenges.
The agency made the call during an Artificial Intelligence Hackathon organised in partnership with VibeCode Africa in Abuja, where participants from different backgrounds gathered to develop practical AI-driven solutions focused on local problems.
Delivering the keynote address, the Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, said Nigeria’s youthful population represents one of the country’s biggest advantages in the emerging global digital economy.
Inuwa, who was represented by the Acting Director of Digital Literacy and Capacity Building, Dr. Ahmed Tambuwal, through Mrs. Udoka Mannie, said the country must position itself as an active contributor in the global artificial intelligence ecosystem instead of remaining dependent on foreign technologies.
According to him, the rapid growth of artificial intelligence across industries and governments around the world has created an urgent need for Nigeria to invest in local innovation and digital capability.
“With more than 60 percent of Nigerians under the age of 25, this country has one of the youngest populations globally. That presents a major opportunity for innovation and digital skills development,” he said.
He noted that the hackathon was designed to create an environment where young innovators can collaborate, experiment and build solutions tailored to Nigeria’s realities rather than relying on imported systems that may not fully address local needs.
“As you can see, this room is filled with young people. This represents a powerful opportunity for innovation and digital skills development,” he added.
Inuwa said the future of artificial intelligence in Nigeria would largely depend on whether the country chooses to build its own technology ecosystem or continue operating mainly as a consumer market for products developed elsewhere.
“The question before us is whether we will shape AI for national development or remain passive consumers of foreign innovations,” he said.
The NITDA boss explained that the agency’s mandate goes beyond regulating information technology, stressing that its broader objective is to ensure technology becomes a driver of economic growth, productivity and national development.
He said the agency’s Digital Literacy and Capacity Building Department has continued to focus on equipping Nigerians with practical digital skills needed to compete in the global economy.
According to him, one of NITDA’s major programmes, the Digital Literacy for All initiative (DL4ALL), is expected to support the Federal Government’s target of achieving 95 percent digital literacy by 2030.
However, Inuwa stressed that digital literacy alone is no longer enough in a rapidly changing technology landscape dominated by artificial intelligence and automation.
“Beyond literacy, we are now moving into capability. It is one thing to use technology, but another thing entirely to build with it. Today, we are challenging you to build,” he said.
He urged participants at the hackathon to focus less on applause or prize money and more on developing practical solutions capable of creating measurable impact across different sectors.
According to him, Nigeria still faces significant challenges in areas such as healthcare access, agriculture, public service delivery, financial inclusion, education and misinformation, all of which can benefit from AI-powered innovation.
He noted that local innovators are often in the best position to understand these problems and design solutions that directly reflect the realities within their communities.
Inuwa also warned that the growth of artificial intelligence must be accompanied by strong ethical standards, responsible data practices and inclusion.
“As we explore AI, we must be mindful of ethics, data protection and inclusion. Building responsibly is just as important as building brilliantly,” he said.
He commended VibeCode Africa for partnering with NITDA to organise the event, describing collaboration between the public and private sectors as critical to accelerating innovation across the country.
Speaking earlier, founder of VibeCode Africa, Lola Adey, also encouraged participants to use artificial intelligence as a tool for solving real problems within their communities.
According to her, this year’s hackathon was intentionally structured differently from previous editions, with participants no longer restricted to predefined sectors such as healthcare or agriculture.
Instead, teams were encouraged to identify challenges they personally experience and build solutions around them.
“We’re not going to give you any industry. We want you to dig deep into yourselves. What are the problems you are facing? What are the problems your brothers and sisters are facing?” she said.
Adey said Africa must stop functioning primarily as a source of talent for foreign companies and begin building technologies capable of driving innovation and economic growth within the continent.
She identified electricity shortages, insecurity and weak social services as some of the issues young innovators can begin tackling through technology.
“With artificial intelligence, you now have something in your hand that you can use to actually solve problems. You don’t have to wait for anybody anymore,” she said.
She also advised participants to remain collaborative and open-minded, noting that events like the hackathon can create opportunities for partnerships, employment, investment and startup growth.
Closing his remarks, Inuwa reiterated that Nigeria’s AI future must be driven by local talent and local solutions.
“The future of AI in Nigeria will not be imported. It will be built by people like you in rooms like this,” he said.
