The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has said the next phase of growth for Nigeria's banking sector will be driven less by capital accumulation and more by the ability of financial institutions to build digital trust through artificial intelligence (AI), regulatory technology (RegTech) and cyber resilience.

Speaking during a panel session titled "The Efficiency Frontier – AI, RegTech and Cyber Resilience" at the Future of Banking Nigeria Summit organised by CNBC Africa in Lagos, Inuwa argued that while Nigeria's banking industry has successfully weathered major reforms over the past two decades, the emerging threats confronting the sector require a different approach.

He noted that the industry has repeatedly demonstrated resilience through landmark milestones such as the 2005 banking consolidation, the 2009 banking reforms and the ongoing recapitalisation exercise. According to him, the priority has now shifted from simply raising capital to ensuring that such capital is protected and sustained in an increasingly digital economy.

"Today's question is no longer whether we can raise capital, but whether we can protect, preserve and grow that capital in the digital era. Trust has become the foundation of modern banking, and that trust must be built on resilient digital infrastructure and effective regulation," he said.

Inuwa observed that digital channels have become the primary point of interaction between banks and customers, making technology resilience, cybersecurity and uninterrupted service delivery essential to maintaining public confidence in the financial system.

He described artificial intelligence as a strategic tool capable of transforming banking operations by improving productivity, strengthening decision-making, boosting revenue and delivering personalised financial services that reflect the expectations of digitally connected customers.

The DG also highlighted the growing importance of regulatory technology, saying its adoption can simplify compliance, lower operational costs, improve transparency and strengthen governance across financial institutions.

According to him, effective regulation must evolve alongside innovation. He explained that NITDA combines formal regulatory instruments with collaborative, innovation-friendly approaches that allow emerging technologies to develop while regulators establish appropriate standards and safeguards.

"Technology evolves much faster than traditional regulation. Regulators must work closely with innovators to create enabling frameworks that encourage innovation while protecting consumers and maintaining market confidence," he said.

Using Nigeria's thriving fintech ecosystem as an example, Inuwa said technology has fundamentally changed the delivery of financial services by enabling customers to open accounts, access banking products and carry out transactions remotely without visiting physical branches.

He further called for closer collaboration among regulators to improve access to finance for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). He explained that AI-powered credit assessment and digital financial management tools can help financial institutions better understand business performance, reduce lending risks and expand credit to underserved enterprises.

On responsible AI adoption, Inuwa disclosed that NITDA's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy provides a framework for deploying AI across critical sectors in partnership with sector regulators, including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for financial services.

He added that the Agency is also developing National Standards for Sovereign Cloud infrastructure and data classification to strengthen Nigeria's digital sovereignty and ensure that sensitive national and financial data remain adequately protected.

Inuwa concluded that deeper collaboration among regulators, technology innovators and financial institutions will be critical to building a secure, resilient and globally competitive financial ecosystem that supports sustainable economic growth.

PHOTO, From Left: Wole Famurewa, Dr. Ayotunde Coker, CEO of Open Access Data Centres and former Managing Director of Rack Centre; the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa; Prof. Olayinka David West of Lagos Business School; and Femi Osinubi, Africa Advisory Leader, PwC, during the panel session, "The Efficiency Frontier – AI, RegTech and Cyber Resilience," at the Future of Banking Nigeria Summit organised by CNBC Africa in Lagos.

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