National Information Technology Development Agency has called on young Nigerians to develop home-grown artificial intelligence solutions capable of solving the country’s social and economic problems.
The appeal was made during an AI Hackathon organised by NITDA in partnership with VibeCode Africa in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa, represented by Acting Director of Digital Literacy and Capacity Building Ahmed Tambuwal through Mrs. Udoka Mannie, said Nigeria’s large youth population gives the country a strong opportunity to drive innovation and digital transformation.
According to Inuwa, more than 60 percent of Nigerians are under the age of 25, making the country one of the youngest populations in the world and placing it in a strong position to benefit from emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
He described the hackathon as an important platform for young innovators from different backgrounds to collaborate and create practical AI solutions designed specifically for Nigerian realities.
“As you can see, this room is filled with young people, this represents a powerful opportunity for innovation and digital skills development,” he said.
Inuwa noted that artificial intelligence is already transforming economies, governance, and societies around the world. He said the major question for Nigeria is whether the country will actively shape AI for development or remain only a consumer of foreign technology.
He explained that NITDA’s role is not only to regulate information technology but also to ensure technology drives national growth and development.
The agency’s Digital Literacy and Capacity Building Department, he said, is focused on creating a digitally skilled population that can participate fully in the global digital economy.
Inuwa highlighted NITDA’s Digital Literacy for All initiative, known as DL4ALL, as one of the agency’s major programmes aimed at equipping millions of Nigerians with digital skills. The initiative supports the Federal Government’s target of achieving 95 percent digital literacy by 2030.
He stressed that digital literacy alone is no longer enough, adding that Nigerians must move from simply using technology to building technology solutions.
“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.
The NITDA chief encouraged participants to focus on creating solutions with real impact rather than only competing for prizes.
He identified sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, financial inclusion, public service delivery, and misinformation as areas where artificial intelligence could provide major improvements.
Inuwa also warned that AI development must be guided by ethics, inclusion, and strong data protection practices.
“As we explore AI, we must be mindful of ethics, data protection and inclusion. Building responsibly is just as important as building brilliantly,” he added.
He praised VibeCode Africa for partnering with NITDA to organise the event, describing such collaborations as important for expanding innovation across the country.
Meanwhile, founder of VibeCode Africa, Lola Adey, urged participants to use artificial intelligence to address challenges they experience in their communities.
She said this year’s hackathon was designed differently from previous editions, as teams were not assigned sectors such as healthcare or agriculture. Instead, participants were asked to identify real problems around them and build solutions based on those experiences.
“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 pointed to issues such as electricity shortages, insecurity, and poor social services as examples of areas where technology could help create change.
She added that the programme aims to create pathways for entrepreneurship, employment, and international opportunities for young Africans.
“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 encouraged participants to stay collaborative and open-minded, noting that the event could help them meet future business partners, employers, investors, or co-founders.
