The Federal Government has inaugurated the Steering Committee of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO) to improve the coordination and use of technology and health data across the country’s health system.
The committee was inaugurated during its inaugural meeting at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Headquarters in Abuja.
The establishment of NHTDAO followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval in June 2026 for the Office to coordinate Nigeria’s digital health agenda and support the implementation of the National Digital Health Architecture approved by the National Council on Health.
Speaking at the meeting, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said Nigeria needed to move beyond simply digitising health information.
Pate said securely stored and connected health data should be used to generate new knowledge, support the development of medical technologies and improve patient care.
He said the value of digitalisation would be realised when data generated across the health system can be responsibly used to support clinical decision-making, research, innovation and more efficient healthcare delivery.
NHTDAO to Improve Coordination
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare and Alternate Co-Chair of the committee, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said NHTDAO would provide a coordination mechanism for Nigeria’s growing digital health ecosystem.
He said the Office would complement rather than replace the work of existing departments, agencies, programmes and institutions.
Salako also said NHTDAO would help address the fragmentation among electronic medical record systems and establish common standards to improve interoperability across the health system.
He described digital health as an important enabler of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom S. mni, said reliable and connected data had become increasingly important as Nigeria’s health system continued to grow in scale and complexity.
She urged the committee to ensure that technology delivers real value to Nigerians, asking: “How does this improve the experience, access, safety or health outcome of the Nigerian patient?”
Kachollom also highlighted the need to address interoperability, cybersecurity, data protection, ethical use of artificial intelligence, data governance and patient confidentiality.
She said digital transformation should reduce rather than deepen inequalities, particularly for people in rural and underserved communities.
Private Sector Role
The Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group and Co-Chair of the committee, Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf, stressed the need for clear guidelines to promote interoperability and scale digital health solutions.
He also highlighted the importance of greater private-sector investment and participation in Nigeria’s health technology ecosystem.
The National Coordinator of NHTDAO, Dr. Obi Adigwe, said the Office would work with government institutions and other stakeholders to translate the National Digital Health Architecture into coordinated implementation.
He said the focus would include common standards, interoperability and the effective use of health data.
The committee comprises stakeholders from the federal and state governments, national health institutions, the private sector and the Sector-Wide Approach.
The Federal Government said NHTDAO would support efforts to build a more connected, resilient and people-centred health system while advancing the objectives of the NHSRII.
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