President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the establishment of a National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office as part of far-reaching reforms aimed at strengthening disease surveillance, enhancing early warning systems and improving Nigeria’s overall response and preparedness to public health threats and emerging epidemics across the country.
The new office, which will be domiciled under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, is expected to deploy cutting-edge technology, artificial intelligence, data analytics and digital surveillance tools to track pathogens, monitor disease trends, detect outbreaks and coordinate rapid response to communicable and non-communicable diseases down to the ward level.
According to the Presidency, the office will be headed by a renowned pharmacist, public health expert and former Director General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, NIPRD, Dr. Obi Adigwe, who will work under the direct supervision and strategic guidance of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.
The establishment of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office is one of the key health sector innovations approved by President Tinubu under his Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to transform the health sector from a largely curative system to a more preventive, predictive, data-driven and technology-enabled health system for all Nigerians.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed the presidential approval while speaking at a high-level retreat for global health ministers, chief executives, development partners and other top public health officials currently holding in Bali, Indonesia, where Nigeria’s health reforms are being showcased.
Professor Pate explained that the initiative is designed to support and accelerate efforts to eliminate tuberculosis, malaria, neglected tropical diseases and other communicable diseases in Nigeria by the year 2035, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, and global health targets set by the World Health Organization, WHO.
He noted that the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office will serve as the central hub for health data harmonization, disease intelligence, laboratory networking, genomic surveillance and real-time monitoring of health indicators across the 774 local government areas and over 9,000 political wards in Nigeria.
The Minister said the office will track pathogens, monitor the spread of communicable diseases, analyse health trends, provide predictive modelling of outbreaks and ensure that health authorities at federal, state and local government levels have timely, accurate and actionable data for decision making and intervention.
Professor Pate stated that with the new office, Nigeria will be able to detect disease outbreaks much earlier than before, respond faster and more effectively to public health emergencies, and prevent small outbreaks from escalating into large-scale epidemics that could threaten national health security and socio-economic stability.
He added that the office will also integrate data from various sources, including public health facilities, private hospitals, laboratories, community health workers, environmental surveillance systems and international health databases, to create a comprehensive, unified and robust health intelligence architecture for the country.
The Coordinating Minister highlighted Nigeria’s recent response to the Ebola threat that was reported in some neighbouring West African countries, noting that the Federal Government’s deliberate investment in technology, digital surveillance, laboratory strengthening and preventive healthcare had significantly strengthened disease surveillance and case management.
According to him, Nigeria’s ability to quickly activate its surveillance systems, screen travellers at points of entry, trace contacts and manage suspected cases during the recent Ebola scare was a direct result of reforms and investments made by the Tinubu administration in the health sector in the last two years of the administration.
Professor Pate said the lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic, Ebola outbreaks, Lassa fever, cholera and other recurring epidemics in the country have shown that Nigeria must invest heavily in technology, data and preventive healthcare, rather than waiting to respond to outbreaks after they have already spread and caused significant damage.
He explained that the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office will work closely with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, the National Health Insurance Authority, NHIA, and other agencies under the Ministry of Health to ensure synergy and avoid duplication of efforts.
The Minister said the office will also collaborate with global partners, academic institutions, research centres, technology companies and development agencies to bring global best practices, innovative solutions and sustainable funding models to Nigeria’s health surveillance and data management ecosystem for long-term sustainability.
Professor Pate noted that the initiative will create employment opportunities for young Nigerians in the fields of data science, public health informatics, software development, laboratory science, epidemiology and health technology, thereby contributing to the administration’s agenda of job creation and youth empowerment through the digital economy.
He assured that the Federal Government will ensure that the office is equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, trained personnel and adequate budgetary provision to discharge its mandate effectively, noting that health security is national security and must be treated with the seriousness and urgency it deserves.
Stakeholders in the health sector have already commended President Tinubu for approving the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office, describing it as a bold, visionary and forward-looking decision that will revolutionize disease surveillance, improve health outcomes and position Nigeria as a leader in health technology in Africa.
They noted that with the office headed by Dr. Obi Adigwe, who has vast experience in pharmaceutical research, health policy and innovation, and under the supervision of Professor Pate, who is globally recognized for his expertise in public health leadership, the initiative is well positioned to achieve its objectives and deliver tangible results.
Meanwhile, Professor Pate reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of location, socio-economic status or background, has access to quality, affordable and timely healthcare, adding that the new office is a critical step towards achieving universal health coverage and eliminating preventable diseases by 2035.
Professor Pate further disclosed that the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office will also be responsible for driving local innovation and homegrown solutions to Nigeria’s health challenges, by supporting Nigerian start-ups, researchers and innovators who are developing low-cost diagnostic tools, mobile health applications and surveillance technologies that are tailored to the local context and peculiarities of the Nigerian health system.
He explained that the office will establish a national health data repository and dashboard that will be accessible to policymakers, health managers, researchers and the general public, to ensure transparency, accountability and evidence-based decision making, while also ensuring that data privacy, confidentiality and ethical considerations are strictly adhered to in line with global best practices.
According to the Minister, the office will also play a critical role in monitoring antimicrobial resistance, tracking the circulation of substandard and falsified medicines and supporting the country’s efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in local production of essential medicines, vaccines and other health commodities through data-driven demand forecasting and supply chain optimization.
Professor Pate noted that the establishment of the office comes at a time when Nigeria is intensifying its efforts to rebuild its health system after years of underfunding and brain drain, adding that the Tinubu administration is committed to reversing the trend of medical tourism by building a resilient, technology-driven and people-centered health system that Nigerians can trust.
He concluded by calling on all stakeholders, including state governments, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organizations and development partners, to support the initiative and ensure its success, stressing that disease surveillance and health security is a collective responsibility that requires the collaboration and active participation of all Nigerians at every level of society.
