According to the Premium Times, President Bola Tinubu has approved the creation of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO). In a move to ensure immediate takeoff, the President appointed the current Director-General of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Dr. Obi Adigwe, as the pioneer coordinator of the new health tech agency.
The NHTDAO was set up to lead the digitalization of healthcare systems across Nigeria. The new agency will focus on using data analytics, AI, and modern tech infrastructure to improve disease surveillance, optimize medical supply chains, and make healthcare more accessible for everyday Nigerians. Dr. Adigwe’s appointment is expected to bridge the gap between pharmaceutical research and digital healthcare tech.
Validating the health sector reform, The Guardian reported that the creation of the NHTDAO is “a vital step toward building data-driven defenses against regional health emergencies.” In addition, BusinessDay remarked that the agency “will create a highly profitable environment for private-sector health-tech startups looking to collaborate with government institutions.”
Echotitbits take: Setting up the NHTDAO is a smart move toward modernizing Nigeria’s healthcare system with data-driven tools. Putting Dr. Obi Adigwe at the helm brings proven administrative experience from NIPRD to this new digital frontier. If managed correctly, this agency could transform how Nigeria handles vaccine distribution and tracks disease outbreaks in real time.
Source: Premium Times – https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/890995-tinubu-establishes-national-health-technology-and-data-analytics-office-appoints-obi-adigwe-pioneer-coordinator.html, June 26, 2026
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