The Federal Government has inaugurated the Steering Committee of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO) to strengthen coordination, interoperability and the effective use of technology and health data across Nigeria’s health system.
The inaugural meeting was held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Headquarters in Abuja, following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval in June 2026 for the establishment of the office.
Co-chairing the meeting, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said Nigeria must move beyond simply digitising health information to ensuring that securely stored and connected health data translates into better healthcare.
Pate said, “We must move beyond simply digitising health information to ensuring that securely stored and connected health data can generate new knowledge, support the development of new technologies in medicine and ultimately improve patient care.”
He added that the value of digitalisation would be realised when data generated across the health system could be responsibly used to support clinical decision making, research, innovation and more efficient healthcare delivery.
“The value of digitalisation will 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,” he said.
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 expanding digital health ecosystem.
He said, “NHTDAO will provide a coordination mechanism for Nigeria’s growing digital health ecosystem.”
Salako stressed that the office would complement rather than replace the responsibilities of existing departments, agencies, programmes and institutions.
He said, “The Office will complement rather than replace the responsibilities of existing departments, agencies, programmes and institutions.”
According to him, the initiative would help address fragmentation among electronic medical record systems and establish common standards to improve interoperability across the health system.
He also described digital health as an important enabler of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, saying, “Digital health is an important enabler of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.”
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom S. mni, said the growing scale and complexity of Nigeria’s health system made reliable and connected data increasingly important to effective decision making.
She urged the committee to ensure that technology ultimately delivers tangible value to Nigerians.
“How does this improve the experience, access, safety or health outcome of the Nigerian patient?” she asked.
Kachollom also stressed the importance of interoperability, cybersecurity, data protection, ethical use of artificial intelligence, data governance and patient confidentiality.
She said, “We must ensure that digital transformation reduces rather than deepens inequalities, particularly for rural and underserved communities.”
The other Co-Chair and Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf, underscored the need for clear guidelines to promote interoperability, scale digital health solutions and attract greater private sector investment.
Yusuf said, “Clear guidelines are important to promote interoperability, scale digital health solutions and unlock 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 relevant government institutions and stakeholders to translate the National Digital Health Architecture into coordinated implementation.
Adigwe said, “NHTDAO will work with relevant government institutions and stakeholders to translate the National Digital Health Architecture into coordinated implementation.”
He said the office would place emphasis on common standards, interoperability and the effective use of health data across the health system.
The Steering Committee brings together stakeholders from the Federal Government, state governments, national health institutions, the private sector and the Sector Wide Approach to provide strategic direction and oversight for the office.
The Federal Government said NHTDAO would contribute to building a more connected, resilient and people centred health system while advancing the broader objectives of the NHSRII.