By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s digital health ecosystem have urged government agencies and health institutions to accelerate the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into healthcare delivery, despite current infrastructural and regulatory limitations.

The call was made during a high-level health technology dialogue in Abuja, where experts stressed that Nigeria must begin adopting AI solutions even as foundational systems continue to develop.

The experts spoke during a panel session at the AfriHealth Conferences and Exhibitions, held under the theme: “Reimagining Primary Health Care in Nigeria: Advancing Digital Innovation, Diagnostics and Inclusive Health Financing.”

Abdulhamid Yahaya, Deputy Director of Global Health Informatics at eHealth Africa, acknowledged widespread capacity gaps among health workers, many of whom lack digital and AI literacy. However, he noted that structured programmes aimed at building technical capability are already in progress.

“Don’t wait until everything is perfect. Data sets are fragmented, governance structures need strengthening, but we must begin deploying and scaling AI-enabled solutions even in imperfect conditions,” Yahaya said.

He referenced existing data protection laws such as the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) and noted that although Nigeria has yet to finalise a responsible AI framework, foundational data-governance systems already offer safeguards for ethical use.

Yahaya also expressed optimism that national initiatives—including the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme—would substantially enhance Nigeria’s AI readiness in the coming years.

Although Nigeria currently ranks low on the global AI Readiness Index due to infrastructure and governance challenges, he believes the trend is improving. “When ongoing infrastructure and capacity-building efforts mature, Nigeria’s readiness will improve significantly. We are not asking the government for funding—just an enabling environment and strong digital public infrastructure,” he added.

He stressed that adopting AI is crucial for Nigeria to meet Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and relevant Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) health targets, especially given the workload on frontline health workers. “Community health workers have limited tools and heavy patient loads. Technology can scale what works—take a proven use case and replicate it millions of times.”

Also speaking, Otse Ogorry, Country Director for Palladium Data.FI Project, highlighted the need for a formal national governance structure for AI deployment in Nigeria.

“We currently do not have a national act or law that speaks directly to AI. The government must urgently provide regulatory guardrails to ensure ethical and effective implementation,” he said, suggesting the European Union’s GDPR as a model Nigeria could adapt alongside its existing data-use frameworks.

Offering a broader view, Dr. Kunle Kakanfo, Founder of Artificial Intelligence for Social Impact and Development, said AI is reshaping global health systems and presents significant opportunities for Nigeria. He cited its applications in clinical decision support, medical triage, task-shifting, disease surveillance, outbreak prediction, and resource planning.

Dr. Kakanfo emphasized that while Nigeria’s healthcare system faces structural challenges, AI offers a pathway to improved efficiency. “The deficiencies in our healthcare system can be mitigated by AI. It creates efficiencies and frees up skilled workers to focus on more complex medical cases,” he said.

Collectively, the experts agreed that Nigeria is at a crucial juncture—characterized by a young population, expanding digital skills, and increasing awareness of AI’s potential, yet still constrained by fragmented data systems and an evolving regulatory environment.

The consensus from the Abuja dialogue was clear: Nigeria cannot wait for perfect conditions before adopting AI, and governance frameworks should be developed in parallel with innovation.