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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO), marking a major policy step toward building a secure, interoperable, and data-driven healthcare system in Nigeria.
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The President has also appointed Obi Adigwe as the pioneer National Coordinator of the newly created office.
NHTDAO to Drive Nigeria’s Digital Health Agenda
According to an official statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the NHTDAO will be domiciled in the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
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The new office serves as a meta-level national platform to drive Nigeria’s digital health transformation. Its mandate includes reinforcing existing statutory institutions and harmonising health data across all sectors.
This coordination is designed to eliminate fragmentation and accelerate the adoption of data-driven healthcare.
Importantly, the NHTDAO will not replace current agencies but will strengthen collaboration, standardisation, and interoperability within the health ecosystem.
Operationalising the National Digital Health Architecture
A core mandate of the NHTDAO is to operationalise the National Digital Health Architecture, which was approved by the National Council on Health in November 2025.
The office will operate through a framework designed to establish common standards and enable secure data exchange across Nigeria’s health system. It will empower institutions at all levels to adopt technology-enabled, evidence-based healthcare delivery.
This approach is fully aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda for health transformation.
Leadership and Strategic Governance Framework
The NHTDAO will be guided by an 18-member Steering Committee that brings together senior government officials, regulators, and private-sector leaders to provide strategic oversight.
The committee is co-chaired by:
- Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare
- Olaniyi Yusuf, Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, serves as Alternate Co-chair.
Other members include representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and National Primary Health Care Development Agency. The list also include National Health Insurance Authority, National Information Technology Development Agency, and the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain. In the list are state commissioners of health from all six geopolitical zones, and industry stakeholders.
Dr Obi Adigwe’s Track Record in Science and Innovation
Dr Adigwe’s role as National Coordinator is grounded in extensive experience at the intersection of science, technology, and public policy. His tenure as Director General of NIPRD was marked by strategic initiatives that applied scientific research to real-world challenges.
These spanned artificial intelligence, translational research, nanotechnology, and technology transfer.
He coordinated a series of landmark projects across science, health, and international development.
These included a ¥300 million nanotechnology grant, the AFREXIMBank-backed API Training Facility, and a roadmap that unlocked an €18 million EU grant. That grant remains the largest of its kind in Africa for that thematic area.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he also led globally recognised scientific work that debunked claims surrounding the COVID Organics preparation, showcasing African scientific leadership on the world stage.
Positioning Nigeria Within Global Digital Health Trends
With the creation of the NHTDAO, Nigeria joins a growing list of countries that have established dedicated digital health and data analytics institutions to modernise healthcare delivery and strengthen decision-making.
International examples include the Australian Digital Health Agency and NHS England Digital. Across Africa, comparable initiatives include Rwanda’s National Health Intelligence Center, Kenya’s Digital Health Agency established under the Digital Health Act 2023, and Egypt’s National Digital Health Strategy aligned with its Digital Egypt 2030 vision.
Accelerating a Secure, Data-Driven Health System
President Tinubu expects the NHTDAO to drive Nigeria’s transition to a modern health system anchored on security, interoperability, and data.
This move is designed to improve service delivery, enhance transparency, and strengthen citizen trust in healthcare.
The initiative is fully aligned with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and its commitment to better health outcomes for all.
