At the Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition (DNICE 2025), held in Abuja under the theme “Innovation for a Sustainable Digital Future: Accelerating Growth, Inclusion and Global Competitiveness,” Apodissi’s General Manager, Margherita Trestini, underscored the importance of locally led research and responsible innovation in shaping Nigeria’s path to global competitiveness in artificial intelligence.
Speaking on the high-level panel “Positioning Nigeria for Global AI Competitiveness,” moderated by Abubakar Dahiru, PhD and fellow panellists Ibrahim Adeyanju and Chuks Ekwueme, Trestini emphasised that the future of AI in Africa depends on context-aware innovation, technologies designed to reflect the languages, cultures, and priorities of the communities they serve.
“True progress will not come from importing tools,” Trestini stated, “but from building capabilities that resonate with our own contexts and realities. When research respects who we are and what we need, technology becomes a lever for shared prosperity.”
Discussing with the She noted that AI can catalyse economic growth and create decent jobs for Nigeria’s youth, provided it is developed with strong local participation, sound governance, and ethical alignment with public needs. Drawing from over three decades of experience in European Commission–funded research and innovation projects, Trestini highlighted how strategic research partnerships can help countries like Nigeria harness AI for sustainability — from waste management optimisation and renewable energy forecasting to data-driven early warning systems for disaster response.
Local Innovation Through Global Collaboration
A key point of her intervention focused on Apodissi’s partnership with DataScientia — a European initiative led by Prof Fausto Giunchiglia (University of Trento) that promotes human-centric data ecosystems and ethical innovation.
“We are proud to be part of the DataScientia network,” Trestini said. “It represents an inspiring model for collaboration between research, education, and society, one that aligns perfectly with Nigeria’s ambitions for inclusive and sustainable digital transformation.”
At its core, DataScientia aims to build a global community shaping #ArtificialIntelligence and data for the benefit of people and society, and to develop a global #CitizenScience student community, a collaborative ecosystem where knowledge is shared, co-created, and applied for societal impact.
Through its involvement, Apodissi is facilitating bridges between Europe and Africa, supporting dialogue on responsible AI and fostering academic and research partnerships. Apodissi is now inviting Nigerian universities and the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) to join the DataScientia network, to co-create ethical AI frameworks and research initiatives that combine African knowledge, European expertise, and shared values for the common good.
Advancing Nigeria’s Role in Ethical AI
The DNICE 2025 discussions reaffirmed the urgent need for Nigeria to invest in AI education, governance, and data infrastructure that reflects local realities.
Trestini called for a national push to strengthen collaboration between universities, public institutions, and the private sector, ensuring that research translates into tangible outcomes — new jobs, better public services, and inclusive economic growth.
“Technology becomes meaningful only when the people who design and regulate it understand the problems it is meant to solve,” she remarked, urging continued investment in training and research fellowships that combine technical competence with an ethic of public service.
As Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem matures, Apodissi remains committed to contributing to a human-centred AI agenda that prioritises inclusion, sustainability, and shared learning between continents.
