Nigeria has unveiled a significant new artificial intelligence initiative designed to strengthen the capacity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the country, marking a major step in the Federal Government’s drive to build an innovation‑led digital economy.
The announcement was made in Abuja during the launch of the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition (ESBC)–INNOPOWER Free MSMEs AI Master Trainer Programme.
The Director‑General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing a robust and inclusive AI ecosystem that empowers small businesses to adopt emerging technologies.
Represented by the Director of Digital Development Services, Mr Oladejo Olawunmi, Inuwa described artificial intelligence as a transformative force reshaping global economies, industries and governance.
He stated that the programme reflects a shared national and regional commitment to equipping MSMEs with practical AI knowledge and skills that will enable them to improve productivity, automate operations and access new markets.
According to him, artificial intelligence has become a defining technology of the present era, offering opportunities for countries that invest strategically in digital infrastructure, innovation and human capital.
Inuwa highlighted ongoing government initiatives aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s AI capabilities, including the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), the Nigeria AI Collective, the N‑ATLAS multilingual large language model, the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) programme and the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative.
He noted that these programmes are designed to build indigenous AI capacity and prepare Nigerians for emerging opportunities in the digital economy.
He emphasised that Nigeria intends to be an active contributor to the global AI ecosystem rather than a passive consumer of technologies developed elsewhere.
He also underscored the importance of developing sovereign digital infrastructure, preserving indigenous languages in AI systems and expanding digital literacy to ensure that the benefits of digital transformation reach all citizens.
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Speaking at the event, the Regional President of the ECOWAS Small Business Coalition, Dr Abdulrashid Yerima, described the MSME AI Master Trainer Programme as a strategic investment in Africa’s human capital.
He said the initiative would equip trainers with practical AI skills needed to support entrepreneurs and strengthen MSMEs across the region. Yerima expressed confidence that the programme would expand economic opportunities, create quality jobs and promote sustainable industrial development.
He called for deeper collaboration among governments, development partners, financial institutions, academia and the private sector to build an AI‑driven economy capable of enhancing Africa’s competitiveness and delivering inclusive growth.
The launch of the programme reinforces Nigeria’s broader ambition to accelerate digital transformation, strengthen innovation ecosystems and position MSMEs to thrive in an increasingly technology‑driven global marketplace.
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