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The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, has called on Nigerian business leaders to reframe artificial intelligence (AI) as a collaborative innovation partner, not a threat to human employment. He made the remarks during a high-level panel session titled “Builders of the New Nigeria – Stories of Scale, Grit, and Innovation” at the BusinessDay CEO Forum Nigeria, held in Lagos.
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Speaking to an audience of CEOs, entrepreneurs, and policymakers, Abdullahi urged leaders to integrate AI into their businesses as a strategic co-creator capable of generating new ideas, unlocking productivity, and enhancing competitiveness in the digital economy.
“I see AI not just as a tool, but as a thought partner. The key is to position yourself at the center of this collaboration,” Abdullahi stated.
AI Should Augment, Not Replace Human Effort
Abdullahi clarified that AI’s true power lies not in replacing human workers, but in handling repetitive tasks and automating processes. He advised that CEOs redefine their roles in this new paradigm by upgrading their ability to collaborate with intelligent systems.
“AI won’t replace you or me—it will replace the processes and skills we currently rely on. The future belongs to those who can work with AI, not against it,” he said.
He further recommended assigning clear roles or personas to AI systems in business settings—such as virtual co-founders, advisors, or legal assistants—to make their contributions more purposeful and productive.
Approach AI with Caution, Not Complacency
While optimistic about AI’s potential, Abdullahi warned against blind trust in its outputs. He stressed that AI must be viewed critically and tested thoroughly before widespread deployment.
“AI should be treated as the worst version of itself until it proves otherwise,” he cautioned.
This perspective, he noted, underscores the important role of government in establishing safeguards through progressive, collaborative regulation.
NITDA’s Approach: Experiment, Collaborate, Co-Create
Abdullahi highlighted NITDA’s commitment to innovation-friendly regulation through policy labs, experimentation, and stakeholder co-creation. Rather than rushing to regulate emerging technologies out of fear, NITDA partners with startups, private sector innovators, and academia to pilot and refine solutions.
“We co-create and learn from experiments to set clear benchmarks. This ensures our policies are practical, evidence-based, and designed to support both innovation and public safety,” he explained.
Balancing Innovation and Societal Good
According to Abdullahi, Nigeria is positioning itself as a global model for responsible AI adoption, where business innovation and public interest are not mutually exclusive.
“Our goal is to foster an environment where businesses can innovate responsibly, while ensuring technology benefits all Nigerians,” he concluded.
BusinessDay CEO Forum: Catalyzing Innovation in a Tough Economy
The BusinessDay CEO Forum Nigeria convened top decision-makers across sectors to discuss strategies for growth, innovation, and resilience. Panelists shared real-life experiences of scaling businesses, navigating economic challenges, and leveraging technologies like AI, digital payments, and big data to drive impact.
