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The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has called on the federal government to invest in indigenous artificial intelligence (AI) technology and strengthen data sovereignty to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign technology providers.
The Executive Director of CITAD, Malam Yunusa Zakari Ya’u, made the call in his welcome address at the seventh Kano Social Influencers Summit (KANSIS 2026), held in Kano. The address was delivered on his behalf by Malam Isa Garba.
Ya’u said Nigeria needed to move beyond purchasing AI products and services from foreign companies to developing and owning the technology locally, particularly to support innovation and address governance challenges.
“Nigeria cannot remain at the level of going to the market and purchasing AI products and services as if they are some plug-and-play products. We must get to the level of producing and owning this technology,” he said.
He said Nigerian youths had demonstrated creativity in their engagement with emerging technologies but needed an enabling environment to turn their ideas into practical solutions. He urged the government to support young innovators and invest in the development of home-grown AI systems.
The CITAD executive director also raised concerns about Nigeria’s data management systems, noting that much of the country’s data remained in analogue formats and fragmented systems, limiting the country’s capacity to develop and control its own AI technology.
He called for stronger data governance and accountability, urging the government to ensure that foreign technology companies were held responsible for how they collected and used information belonging to Nigerian citizens and institutions.
“We must hold foreign companies accountable for every data they extract from our citizens and systems,” Ya’u said.
He further stressed the need for reliable electricity and water supply, describing them as essential infrastructure for operating data centres and supporting the development of indigenous AI technology. He warned that establishing data centres without addressing these basic requirements would not guarantee technological independence.
“AI is no substitute for such municipal services as constant and affordable electricity and water supply,” he said, adding that Nigeria must ensure its data was collected, protected and used responsibly in accordance with applicable laws.
The summit, themed “Future of Governance: AI, Innovation, and Citizen Engagement,” brought together stakeholders to examine the opportunities and challenges associated with emerging technologies, particularly their implications for governance, public service delivery and citizen participation.
Ya’u said the gathering provided an opportunity to discuss concerns surrounding AI, including privacy violations, algorithmic bias, misinformation, discrimination and digital inequality. He maintained that technology alone could not guarantee good governance without transparent institutions, accountability and respect for citizens’ rights.
He called on government officials, academics, media practitioners, civil society organisations, technology professionals and social media influencers to work together to develop practical recommendations for the inclusive and responsible deployment of AI in Nigeria.
One of the paper presenters, Dr Usman Bugaje, said AI could assist security agencies in identifying and tracking criminals, highlighting its potential contribution to addressing the country’s security challenges. The Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Professor Haruna Musa, attended the summit alongside Professor Jibrin Haruna, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Isa Sanusi and Professor Abdallah Uba Adamu, among other participants.
KANSIS, which began in 2019, has developed into a platform for discussions on digital technology, governance, social justice and citizen participation.
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