President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO) and appointed Dr. Obi Adigwe as its pioneer National Coordinator.
The new office will operate under the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and serve as a national platform for coordinating Nigeria’s digital health agenda.
According to the Presidency, the NHTDAO is designed to strengthen collaboration across the health sector by harmonising public and private institutions, setting interoperability standards, and driving the implementation of the National Digital Health Architecture approved by the National Council on Health in November 2025.
The office will complement, rather than replace, the statutory responsibilities of existing health agencies and departments, with a focus on building a secure, integrated, and data-driven healthcare system.
Dr. Adigwe, who currently serves as Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), was selected to lead the initiative based on his extensive experience in science, technology, artificial intelligence, research, and innovation.
Over the years, he has coordinated major health and research projects, including international grants supporting nanotechnology, pharmaceutical development, and healthcare innovation across Africa.
To provide strategic oversight, the government has constituted a Steering Committee co-chaired by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, and Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Olaniyi Yusuf.
The committee includes representatives from key health institutions, technology agencies, state governments, and industry stakeholders.
President Tinubu said the establishment of the NHTDAO aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda and is expected to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a modern, technology-driven healthcare system that improves service delivery and health outcomes for citizens nationwide.
