The Federal Government has restated its commitment to overhauling healthcare delivery through digital innovation, artificial intelligence (AI), and data-driven systems, during the 5th Africa Digital Health Summit (ADHS 2025) held in Lagos.
1st Right: Dr. Kamil Shoretire, Director Health Planning Research & Statistics Department, Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare
Addressing stakeholders at the summit, the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described digital health as a critical tool in advancing universal health coverage, improving health outcomes, and reducing financial barriers to care across Nigeria and the African continent.
The two-day event, themed “Strengthening Health Systems Through Digital Innovation, Data, and AI,” convened key players from government, the private sector, academia, development agencies, and the tech ecosystem to chart a path for digital transformation in healthcare.
Dr. Salako commended Premier Medical Systems and its founder, Dr. Niyi Osamiluyi, for curating a platform that highlights cutting-edge digital health solutions, including telemedicine, AI-powered diagnostics, electronic medical records, and mobile health applications.
He unveiled the Nigeria Digital in Health Initiative (NDHI), a flagship intervention aimed at actualizing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of delivering accessible and affordable healthcare nationwide. “NDHI will not only drive interoperability and standards in the sector but also create millions of jobs by tapping into the innovative capacity of Nigerian youth,” Salako noted.
Highlighting the indispensable role of the private sector, the Minister called on stakeholders to intensify investment and innovation efforts, assuring that the government is actively creating an enabling environment for sustainable digital health growth.
He also called for stronger alignment between federal and sub-national efforts, urging state governments and commissioners for health to support national goals and ensure broader impact and scalability.
Emphasizing equity and sustainability, Dr. Salako said that under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, access to quality healthcare remains a fundamental right. He, however, cautioned against rising cybersecurity threats and misuse of patient data, stressing the need to “robustly ringfence digital health systems from cyberattacks.”
To address energy-related challenges in digital health deployment, the Minister announced that a National Stakeholders Dialogue on Power in Health will be convened later this year.
Declaring the summit open, Dr. Salako reaffirmed the government’s resolve to harness technology and cross-sector collaboration in unlocking Africa’s health potential.
