By Mercy Gadia Adi
Nigeria has reaffirmed its resolve to accelerate digital innovation across its healthcare system, as the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, addressed global health technology leaders at the 2025 HIMSS Eurasia HealthTech Conference in Belek–Antalya, Turkey.
Delivering his keynote on November 26, Salako said the country is pursuing a deliberate shift towards a resilient, technology-enabled and people-centred health architecture consistent with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda for the sector.
He commended the Turkish Ministry of Health and the HIMSS Eurasia organising committee for convening a platform that brings together governments, private-sector actors and innovators to shape the future of global health. The conference themes—ranging from digital hospitals and robotics to artificial intelligence, genomics and data-driven care—he noted, mirror Nigeria’s strategic priorities under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
“The global health landscape is changing rapidly with rising population demands, emerging diseases and increasing expectations for quality care,” the minister said. “Transformation is no longer optional but essential, and Nigeria is fully embracing this imperative.”
Salako outlined the Federal Government’s reform framework anchored on four pillars: improved governance, quality service delivery, unlocking the healthcare value chain and stronger health security. Central to these, he stressed, is the deployment of digital solutions to strengthen service delivery, public health surveillance and coordination across the health ecosystem.
He disclosed that government is investing in interoperable, standards-based systems, robust data governance and digital tools that expand access for rural and underserved communities. Collaboration with private-sector innovators, start-ups and development partners, he added, remains integral to the country’s long-term digital transformation agenda.
A cornerstone of these reforms is the Nigeria Digital in Health Initiative (NDHI), through which the government is developing a National Digital Health Architecture (NDHA)—a unified framework intended to eliminate fragmentation and set sustainable norms for digital health implementation nationwide. Supporting infrastructure such as a Health Information Exchange, shared health records and national registries is also being developed to enhance identity management, workforce planning and continuity of care.
Describing HIMSS Eurasia as a timely platform for engagement, Salako said the gathering offers Nigeria the opportunity to strengthen international partnerships, attract investment and identify scalable innovations capable of improving health outcomes.
He welcomed the strong representation of African nations at the conference, noting the continent’s shared ambition to leapfrog legacy systems through technology. Yet, as artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced analytics redefine global healthcare, he underscored the need for equity, affordability, contextual relevance and respect for national data sovereignty—particularly for developing countries.
“Our world is connected, and so is our health,” he said. “Together, through partnerships such as this, we can build a healthier, more resilient and more inclusive world.”
The minister expressed confidence that deliberations at the conference would be enriching and consequential for all participants.