President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO) and appointed Dr. Obi Adigwe as its pioneer National Coordinator in a move aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s digital transformation in the health sector.
According to a statement issued on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the new office will be domiciled in the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
The statement said the NHTDAO will serve as a national platform for coordinating Nigeria’s digital health agenda, while reinforcing—not replacing—the statutory responsibilities of existing ministries, departments and agencies.
It added that the office will harmonise and strengthen collaboration among public and private institutions across the country’s health system, establish standards to ensure interoperability, and drive the implementation of the National Digital Health Architecture approved by the National Council on Health in November 2025.
The President also named the Director General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Dr. Obi Adigwe, as the pioneer National Coordinator of the office.
According to the statement, Adigwe has championed several science and technology-driven initiatives, including projects in artificial intelligence, translational research and technology transfer. He also coordinated major interventions such as the ¥300 million Nanotechnology Grant, the AFREXIMBank grant for Africa’s first Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) Training Facility, and led the development of the roadmap that secured an €18 million European Union grant for the sector.
The statement further noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Adigwe conducted what it described as the world’s first scientific analysis to challenge claims surrounding the Covid Organics herbal preparation.
To provide strategic oversight, the President approved the constitution of a Steering Committee for the office. The committee will be co-chaired by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf.
Other members include the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako; the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ms. Kachollom Daju; the Special Adviser to the President on Technology and Digital Economy, Mr. Idris Alubankudi Saliu; the National Coordinator of the SWAp Coordination Office, Dr. Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq; the National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain, Dr. Abdu Mukhtar; the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Muyi Aina; the Director General of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr. Kelechi Ohiri; the Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics in the ministry; a representative of the National Information Technology Development Agency; six representatives of state commissioners of health drawn from the six geopolitical zones; and Pharm. Hamza Buhari, representing industry and the community.
The Presidency said the establishment of the NHTDAO is expected to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a secure, interoperable and data-driven health system that will improve healthcare outcomes for citizens, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration.
