Follow Us on Google
By Adewale Sanyaolu
Festus Ajiboye, a seasoned bioinformatics and statistical systems expert, is driving innovative data solutions and modern surveillance systems that are transforming Nigeria’s healthcare industry.
Disclosing this in a media statement recently, he shared how he is driving modernized health data reforms using digital tools, real-time analytics, and transparent financing to strengthen epidemic preparedness in Nigeria.
For decades, Nigeria’s ability to track and respond to health emergencies was hindered by outdated, paper-based reporting that delayed interventions and weakened accountability.
“By the time data got to the national level, outbreaks had often spread, and responses came too late,” Ajiboye recalled. “We needed a system that could capture, process, and distribute health data in real time.”
At the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), where he served as a Program Analyst, Ajiboye contributed to the design and rollout of the Integrated Health Data System (IHDS).
He asserts in the statement that the system introduced digital survey tools, real-time data streams, and interoperable platforms that allowed disease incidence and service delivery metrics to be monitored across zones.
Instead of waiting weeks for reports, policymakers could now access dashboards reflecting near real-time conditions across the country.
Ajiboye’s expertise also brought reforms to healthcare financing.
Further in the statement, he stressed that embedding digital monitoring into surveys enabled government to tie funding allocations to measurable outcomes such as vaccination coverage, maternal health indicators, and facility performance.
This made disbursements more transparent and encouraged states to improve reporting and delivery.
His training in bioinformatics and computational biology further strengthened the predictive and analytical capabilities of the system.
This forward-looking approach aligned Nigeria’s health data systems with standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa CDC, opening new doors for regional collaboration on cross-border health threats.
The reforms are now embedded in Nigeria’s epidemic preparedness framework and are applied by policymakers in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Their value was particularly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when integrated data systems supported quicker mobilization and better tracking of testing, infections, and vaccination campaigns.
“Without the systems put in place before 2020, Nigeria’s pandemic response would have been far slower and less coordinated,” an internal review of the NBS health modernization programme observed.
Looking ahead, Ajiboye is calling for deeper integration of real-time frameworks into policy, more training for state-level data officers, and stronger international cooperation.
“To protect lives, we must keep modernizing, keep innovating, and ensure that every policy is guided by evidence,” he concluded.
Ajiboye work continues to safeguard millions of lives and underscores the importance of data-driven resilience in building a stronger healthcare industry for Nigeria’s future.
