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The Federal Government has restated its commitment to leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transform Nigeria’s healthcare system, saying digital innovation is now central to its health sector reform.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja at the AI Health Summit 2026.
The summit, convened by the Africa Hub for Innovation and Development, had as its theme: “Catalyzing Country AI-in-Health Frameworks for Transformative Healthcare Systems.”
Salako said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has placed digital transformation at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda, with AI, data systems and digital innovation as critical enablers.
He listed the Nigeria Digital Health Strategy (2021–2025), the Nigeria Digital-in-Health Initiative (NDHI) and the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (NAIS) launched in September 2025 as policy instruments driving the agenda.
According to him, the National Digital Health Architecture (NDHA), endorsed by all 36 states and FCT, provides the technical blueprint for a digitally enabled health system that improves decision-making, service delivery, accountability and access to care.
The minister said AI’s potential to transform healthcare delivery is immense, with applications already being witnessed in disease surveillance, clinical decision support, diagnostics, supply chain management and health financing.
He said such innovations could improve health outcomes and expand access for underserved populations, while also creating opportunities for innovation, investment and job creation.
Salako disclosed that the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), under NITDA, is spearheading integration of AI into healthcare, while the Nigeria Atlas for Languages & AI at Scale (N-ATLAS) — the country’s first open-source multilingual large language model trained on local languages — would ensure AI tools serve all Nigerians regardless of literacy level.
He, however, said government recognises gaps in infrastructure, electricity and broadband connectivity, data governance and workforce capacity, which are being addressed through the NDHA, planned Health Information Exchange and operationalisation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
The minister stressed that governance and trust must remain central, with innovation guided by ethics, transparency, accountability and protection of patient privacy.
“The question before us is no longer whether AI can transform healthcare. The question is how we can move from experimentation to institutionalisation, from pilots to platforms, and from innovation to measurable health impact at scale,” he said.
Salako said achieving scale requires strong foundations, including reliable digital infrastructure, quality data systems, interoperability standards, cybersecurity safeguards and a skilled workforce.
He listed other imperatives as ensuring governance keeps pace with innovation through sector-specific regulations on secondary use of clinical data, anonymisation and consent frameworks; partnerships involving government, private sector, academia and development partners; prioritising equity to ensure rural communities benefit; and building local capacity by integrating AI into medical curricula.
He called on policymakers to develop clear regulatory frameworks focused on safety, ethics and equity, innovators to build interoperable and scalable solutions for the Nigerian context, development partners to align support with national priorities, health professionals to embrace digital tools, and researchers to generate evidence for policy.
“Nigeria and Africa are at the cusp of a digital health revolution. With strategic investment, regulatory clarity, workforce training, and sustained political commitment, AI can redefine healthcare delivery, making it more accessible, efficient, and patient-centred,” he said.
The minister urged stakeholders to make the summit a platform for action, not just a jamboree, towards building a healthier and more prosperous Nigeria.
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