The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has called on business leaders to embrace artificial intelligence (AI) as a collaborative partner in driving innovation and economic growth, rather than viewing it as a threat to human jobs.
Speaking 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, Inuwa challenged the conventional notion of AI as merely an automation tool, encouraging CEOs and business leaders to view AI as a thought partner and a strategic ally in generating innovative ideas, discovering new business models, and creating competitive advantages in a rapidly evolving global economy.
He explained that while AI can outperform humans in certain tasks, its primary function should not be seen as replacing human workers, saying instead it is poised to take over specific processes and skills currently relied upon to accomplish routine tasks.
“The key is to position yourself at the center of this collaboration. Yes, AI can outperform humans in many tasks, but it will not replace you or me. What AI will replace are the skills and processes we rely on today to perform our work.”
Inuwa emphasised the need for CEOs and decision-makers to proactively redefine their roles in an AI-driven world by evolving their capabilities to work effectively alongside intelligent systems.
To get the best out of AI, Inuwa advised that businesses should approach AI systems by assigning them specific roles or personas based on the context of their usage.
Despite his optimism about AI’s potential, Inuwa cautioned that AI systems must be approached with vigilance, warning business leaders not to assume AI is always accurate or ethical by default and that AI should always be treated as the “worst version” of itself until it proves otherwise.
He noted that NITDA has adopted a progressive regulatory approach centered on collaboration, experimentation, and co-creation, saying that rather than imposing restrictive regulations out of fear or uncertainty, the agency works hand-in-hand with innovators, startups, and the private sector to experiment with emerging technologies like AI.
Inuwa added “This is our approach to regulation. Rather than rushing to regulate based on fear, we collaborate with the private sector to experiment, learn, and build together. We co-create solutions, then use the lessons from these experiments to establish clear benchmarks that will inform future frameworks, guidelines, and regulations. Nigeria is setting a precedent for balancing technological innovation with societal responsibility, enabling businesses to thrive while ensuring that new technologies benefit the broader society. Our aim is to create an environment where businesses can innovate responsibly, while ensuring society as a whole benefit from these new technologies”.
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