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Lagos State Government has unveiled plans to harness digital health, artificial intelligence, data and strategic partnerships to transform healthcare delivery and position the state as a major hub for medical innovation and the emerging bioeconomy in Africa.
The plan was unveiled at the Eko Health Convention 2026 in Lagos, where health leaders, technology experts, development partners and innovators explored how digital transformation could improve healthcare delivery and strengthen the state’s health system.
Commissioner for Health Prof. Akin Abayomi said digital health had moved beyond electronic records and applications, stressing that quality health data was critical to research, precision medicine, innovation and economic growth.
Abayomi said the Lagos Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP) would connect patient records, laboratory investigations and biological information, enabling the state to build population intelligence and deploy artificial intelligence and machine learning.
“Data has become king,” he said, adding that Lagos was building a bioeconomy around biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, genomics, artificial intelligence and biosciences.
He listed the proposed University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Lagos State Medical, Industrial and Innovation Zone, SHIP and Lagos BioShield initiative among projects supporting the vision.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, said Lagos’ growing population and pressure on hospitals, primary healthcare centres and emergency services made digital transformation urgent.
She recalled that the Ebola outbreak and COVID-19 pandemic exposed the dangers of fragmented health information, stressing that technology must ultimately put people, rather than gadgets, at the centre of healthcare.
Ogunyemi said SHIP would move Lagos from siloed facility records to a centralised health information system supporting surveillance, artificial intelligence and better resource allocation. She identified flagship projects, digital transformation, universal health coverage, and investment in people and strategic partnerships as priorities.
Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr. Adeyinka Shorungbe, said seamless information exchange was central to effective healthcare, urging integration of primary, secondary, tertiary and private facilities.
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He also called for stronger cybersecurity, data governance, capacity building and collaboration between healthcare professionals and technology innovators.
Chief Executive Officer, Mobihealth International, Dr. Funmi Adewara, described the future of healthcare as “click-and-brick,” combining digital access with physical services. She urged Lagos to move telemedicine beyond pilot projects through Ilera Eko reimbursement, SHIP interoperability, improved connectivity and workforce training.
Managing Director, Digital Health Platforms Limited, Mr. Femi Olapegba, said SHIP would address fragmentation among electronic medical records, laboratory systems, telemedicine platforms and paper records.
“The platform, built on the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR), a standard developed by Health Level Seven International (HL7), would connect hospitals, laboratories, Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs), pharmacies, Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs), regulators and patients while supporting electronic referrals, e-prescriptions and emergency access to critical patient information,” he added.
Founder, Africa Hub for Innovation and Development, Dr. Kunle Kakanfo, said AI could improve clinical productivity and help tackle Nigeria’s health workforce shortages but warned against uncontrolled deployment.
He called for AI governance committees, rigorous validation, accountability and safeguards against algorithmic bias and inaccurate outcomes.
Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State AIDS Control Agency, Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, said disruptions in international HIV financing had pushed Lagos to strengthen domestic ownership of the HIV response through increased commodity procurement, treatment continuity, prevention and community engagement.
At a panel on sustainable partnerships, Dr. Temitope Balogun-Alo of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, CHAI’s Dr. Chizoba Fashanu, Ibeju-Lekki Chairman Hon. Abdullahi Sesan Olowa, APIN’s Dr. Olaposi Olatoregun and US CDC’s Dr. Ibrahim Dalhatu called for stronger local ownership, community participation, disability inclusion, surveillance and sustainable financing.
Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide, commended stakeholders for supporting the convention, while Executive Secretary, Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service, Dr. Bodunrin Osikomaiya, said the event had shifted the conversation from innovation to integration.
She called for improved interoperability, stronger referral systems, accountability and institutionalisation of successful innovations, declaring: “EHC 2026 may be ending, but EHC 2027 begins tomorrow.”
