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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu on Friday approved the creation of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO) and appointed Dr. Obi Adigwe as its pioneer National Coordinator, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy said in State House statement.
The new office will be domiciled in the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and is designed to act as “a meta-level national platform” for coordinating Nigeria’s digital health agenda, the statement said.
“The President expects NHTDAO to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a secure, interoperable and data-driven health system that improves outcomes for all citizens, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration,” the statement read.
According to the statement, the NHTDAO will reinforce — not replace — the statutory functions of existing departments and agencies. It will harmonise and empower public and private institutions across the health system, set standards to connect them and operationalise the National Digital Health Architecture approved by the National Council on Health in November 2025.
Adigwe, who currently serves as Director General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, was highlighted in the release for his record of leveraging science to drive technology and innovation. The statement said Adigwe coordinated major projects including a ¥300 million nanotechnology grant and an AFREXIMBank grant for Africa’s first active pharmaceutical ingredient training facility, and helped develop a roadmap that attracted an €18 million European Union grant — described as the largest in Africa for the thematic area.
“During the last pandemic, Adigwe globally showcased African science by undertaking the world’s first analysis to debunk claims about the Covid Organics preparation,” the statement added.
The NHTDAO will be guided by a Steering Committee that provides strategic direction and oversight. The committee is co-chaired by Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, and Olaniyi Yusuf, chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group. Its membership includes the Minister of State for Health as alternate co-chair; the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare; the President’s Special Adviser on Technology and Digital Economy; national coordinators of relevant health initiatives; executives of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the National Health Insurance Authority; a representative from the National Information Technology Development Agency; six state commissioners of health (one from each geopolitical zone); and an industry stakeholder, Hamza Buhari.
The statement said the office will operationalise components of the National Digital Health Architecture to ensure interoperability and data security across health institutions.
