Tinubu Establishes National Health Technology Office to Drive Digital Health and Data Integration

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the creation of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO). The newly established agency is designed to spearhead the country's digital health transformation, harmonize health data systems, and drive technology-enabled reforms across both public and private healthcare sectors.

To lead this unprecedented digital health agenda, the President appointed Dr. Obi Adigwe, a renowned pharmaceutical researcher and the Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), as the pioneer National Coordinator of the NHTDAO.

Announcing the development on June 26, 2026, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, noted that the NHTDAO will be domiciled within the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare. Rather than replacing existing health institutions, the new office will serve as a central meta-level platform. Its primary function is to provide national coordination, set interoperability standards, and ensure seamless collaboration among healthcare stakeholders nationwide.

Operationalizing the National Digital Health Architecture

A core mandate of the NHTDAO is the operationalization of the National Digital Health Architecture, a framework approved by the National Council on Health in November 2025. This framework lays the groundwork for a secure, interoperable, and data-driven healthcare ecosystem in Nigeria.

The new office is expected to address long-standing challenges of fragmentation within the Nigerian health sector. By improving data governance, the agency aims to ensure that patient records and health metrics can be securely accessed and shared across medical facilities, ultimately accelerating medical innovation, reducing administrative friction, and supporting evidence-based policymaking to improve patient outcomes.

A Proven Innovator at the Helm

The appointment of Dr. Obi Adigwe has been widely lauded as a strategic move. The Presidency highlighted Adigwe’s established track record in deploying research, artificial intelligence, and technology transfer to strengthen healthcare systems. During his tenure at NIPRD, he coordinated several high-impact projects, including securing a ¥300 million nanotechnology grant and an AFREXIMBank grant for Africa’s first Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Training Facility.

He also led the roadmap that secured an €18 million European Union grant the largest of its kind for pharmaceutical research in Africa. Furthermore, Dr. Adigwe gained global recognition during the COVID-19 pandemic for conducting the world's first scientific analysis to debunk claims surrounding the controversial "Covid Organics" preparation.

Strategic Oversight and Synergy with Digital Identity

To ensure the NHTDAO delivers on its mandate, President Tinubu approved a high-level Steering Committee co-chaired by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf. The committee includes key figures such as the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, and the Special Adviser to the President on Technology and Digital Economy, Mr. Idris Alubankudi Saliu.

Significantly, the establishment of the health technology office coincided with President Tinubu’s signing of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) Act 2026. This parallel development is not coincidental. A robust national digital identity system is foundational to healthcare data integration, as it ensures that electronic medical records are securely tied to a unified National Identification Number (NIN), minimizing duplication and improving care delivery.

Through the NHTDAO, the Tinubu administration is taking a decisive step toward fulfilling the healthcare objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda. By prioritizing data and technology, Nigeria is laying the infrastructure to transition into a more secure, efficient, and modern health system capable of meeting the complex needs of its growing population.