Nigeria Establishes National Health Technology Office, Appoints Pioneer Coordinator

President Bola Tinubu has approved the creation of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO), a new entity designed to serve as a central platform for coordinating Nigeria's digital health initiatives. The office will be housed within the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.

Obi Adigwe, who previously led the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, has been appointed as the pioneer National Coordinator. In his former role, Adigwe demonstrated a strong capacity for leveraging science and technology, spearheading interventions in artificial intelligence, translational research, and technology transfer. He has a track record of managing significant projects, including a ¥300 million Nanotechnology grant and securing funding for Africa's first API Training Facility.

The NHTDAO's mandate is to reinforce, not replace, existing functions of health agencies. It will harmonize public and private institutions within the health sector, establish connecting standards, and implement the National Digital Health Architecture. The office's Steering Committee includes key figures such as the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, and the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, among others.

President Tinubu expects the NHTDAO to significantly accelerate Nigeria's progress towards a secure, interoperable, and data-driven health system. This initiative is intended to improve health outcomes for all citizens, in line with the administration's 'Renewed Hope Agenda'. Adigwe's experience, including his work debunking claims about Covid Organics during the pandemic, positions him to lead this critical digital health transformation.