The federal government said it’s developing a robust digital infrastructure to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into Nigeria’s health system to improve service delivery, policy formulation, and disease surveillance nationwide.

Senior Technical Advisor to the Coordinating Minister of Health on Digital Health, Leke Ojewale, disclosed this in Abuja at a capacity-building workshop on Artificial Intelligence for Public Health.

The workshop was organised by Artificial Intelligence for Social Impact and Development (AI4SID) in partnership with several organisations, aiming to strengthen participants’ understanding of AI technologies and their safe, responsible application in public health.

Mr Ojewale said the Federal Ministry of Health, through its Nigerian Digital Health Architecture (NDHA), was building the framework to safely and effectively deploy AI tools within Nigeria’s expanding healthcare ecosystem.

“We are building the NDHA to ensure all AI tools in health plug into a unified system. The design relies on registries for clients, facilities, and healthcare workers. These registries are essential to identify patients, determine where they receive care, and track who provides it,” Mr Ojewale explained, noting they form the foundation for a seamless, AI-ready health infrastructure.

He said the Health Information Exchange being developed by the ministry would enable hospitals and providers to share data securely, fostering unified digital records for better diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes.

“Through the Health Information Exchange, we are creating a shared health record system that supports innovation while ensuring patient data is used responsibly to power AI applications,” Mr Ojewale said.

Director-General of the West African Institute of Public Health, Francis Ohanyido, described AI as a transformative technology that could redefine work and healthcare delivery if properly understood and managed.

“AI won’t take people’s jobs; those refusing to adapt will lose theirs. AI is here to stay and must be seen as a partner, not a threat,” he stated.

Mr Ohanyido said the growing AI ecosystem could become a major driver of economic recovery and talent retention in Nigeria if adequately harnessed through innovation, partnerships, and sound regulatory frameworks.

“The African AI industry could generate 13 to 18 billion dollars by 2030. If well implemented, Nigeria can lead this growth, attract investment, and reverse healthcare workforce migration,” he stated.

He cautioned against the misuse of AI tools and urged the development of ethical standards, data protection laws, and regulatory guardrails to prevent misinformation and potential technology-driven harm.

National Director of the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Bunmi Ajala, said AI was transforming healthcare worldwide and could address Nigeria’s diagnostic, logistical, and disease surveillance challenges.

“AI enhances diagnosis, supports personalised medicine, assists in drug discovery, and optimises resource allocation. It helps detect outbreaks early, improving response times and saving lives,” Mr Ajala noted.

Mr Ajala stressed that public trust was vital.

“AI must include human oversight. It supports, not replaces, doctors. Keeping humans in the loop ensures accountability and data protection,” he noted.

He added that the government was partnering with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and other regulators to reinforce ethical frameworks, privacy safeguards, and responsible AI adoption in healthcare.

Founder of AI4SID, Kunle Kakanfo, said the organisation was advancing AI for social good, focusing on health, education, and gender inclusion to improve lives across Nigeria’s urban and rural communities.

“Our mission is to make AI benefit ordinary Nigerians, especially in rural areas. We aim to ease healthcare burdens, empower workers, and expand access to essential services,” Mr Kakanfo said.

He said the workshop sought to train professionals from health and development agencies to responsibly deploy AI.

“Participants included representatives from ministries, NCDC, and the Primary Health Care Development Agency. Our goal is to collaborate, co-create solutions, and develop an AI framework ensuring health innovation aligns with national ethics, safety, and standards,” Mr Kakanfo said while addressing participants during the workshop.

He added that AI4SID had established an AI for Social Good Hub in Abuja to foster innovation, partnerships, and cross-sector collaboration between health experts and technology professionals nationwide.

“AI can help Nigeria leapfrog challenges in health, education, and climate resilience. We must prioritise collaboration, people-centric policies, and responsible innovation to ensure inclusive growth,” he said.

The workshop forms part of preparations for Nigeria’s first National AI in Health Conference slated for Abuja in May 2026.

The conference is expected to serve as a platform for unveiling national strategies and implementation frameworks that will guide the integration of artificial intelligence into Nigeria’s health sector. 

 (NAN)