June 26 (THEWILL) — President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO), a new federal institution designed to coordinate Nigeria’s digital health transformation and accelerate the adoption of technology-driven healthcare solutions across the country.
The President also appointed the Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Dr Obi Adigwe, as the pioneer National Coordinator of the office.
The development was announced in a State House statement issued on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the Presidency, the NHTDAO will be domiciled in the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and will function as a meta-level national platform for coordinating Nigeria’s digital health agenda.
The statement emphasised that the office is not intended to replace the statutory responsibilities of existing ministries, departments, and agencies in the health sector but rather to strengthen collaboration, improve coordination, and establish common standards for digital health implementation nationwide.
“It will reinforce, not replace, the existing statutory functions of relevant departments and agencies. It will also harmonise and empower the public and private institutions across the health system, set the standards that connect them, and operationalise the National Digital Health Architecture, approved by the National Council on Health in November 2025,” the statement said.
The Presidency said the creation of the office marks a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to modernise healthcare delivery through digital innovation, artificial intelligence, health information management, and advanced data analytics.
As the pioneer National Coordinator, Adigwe is expected to provide strategic leadership for the implementation of the country’s digital health agenda.
The Presidency highlighted his track record in deploying science and technology to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
According to the statement, Adigwe has championed interventions in artificial intelligence, translational research, and technology transfer during his tenure as Director-General of NIPRD.
Among his notable achievements are coordinating the ¥300 million Nanotechnology Grant, securing the AFREXIMBank grant that established Africa’s first Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) Training Facility, and leading the roadmap that facilitated the award of an €18 million European Union grant—the largest on the continent in the thematic area.
The statement also recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Adigwe attracted global attention after conducting what it described as the world’s first scientific analysis that debunked claims surrounding the efficacy of the Madagascar-produced COVID Organics herbal preparation.
To provide policy direction and institutional oversight, the President approved the constitution of a multi-sectoral Steering Committee for the office.
The committee will be co-chaired by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Olaniyi Yusuf.
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