Nigeria’s National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) is teaming up with the Africa Centre of Excellence for Population Health and Policy (ACEPHAP) to revolutionize healthcare delivery using digital technologies.
Outlining the plan to leverage technology across various sectors, NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa emphasized its role as a tool for boosting productivity and innovation. He highlighted the eight pillars of NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0) designed to create a thriving digital ecosystem.
A crucial aspect of the plan is fostering digital literacy. NITDA aims to equip 95% of Nigerians with digital skills by 2030, with a mid-term target of 70% by 2027. The “Digital Literacy for All” program, a collaboration with the Ministry of Education, will integrate digital skills into the national curriculum. Additionally, NITDA plans to train 3 million Nigerians in high-demand IT skills through partnerships with platforms like Coursera.
Inuwa also discussed various strategic initiatives that ACEPHAP can leverage to create a vibrant healthcare sector. These initiatives, according to him align with the remaining SRAP pillars, which focus on building a robust research ecosystem, strengthening policies and legal frameworks, promoting inclusive access to digital infrastructure, and fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
NITDA is actively investing in research on six emerging technologies: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), Blockchain, and Additive Manufacturing. The goal is to establish centers of excellence across Nigeria to promote innovation and collaboration.
Inuwa emphasized the importance of cybersecurity and patient data privacy. He highlighted the need to ensure data integrity, availability, and confidentiality as healthcare becomes more digitalized.
NITDA supports startups through the Nigeria Startup Act, providing incentives and resources to foster innovation. The agency encourages startups to register and benefit from these initiatives to accelerate their growth. Additionally, NITDA actively fosters collaboration with academia, corporations, entrepreneurs, and government entities to build a strong innovation ecosystem.
Inuwa highlighted the use of AI tools like ChatGPT in collaboration with E-Health Africa to enhance medical research and diagnostics. This initiative exemplifies a broader strategy to develop local AI solutions for transforming healthcare delivery.
Meanwhile, Professor Hadiza Shehu Galadanci, Director of ACEPHAP, expressed optimism about the collaboration and its potential for long-term, transformative change in healthcare. She shared success stories from their healthcare entrepreneurship program, where young innovators received seed funding to develop their ideas. Galadanci envisions this collaboration translating research into impactful policies and fostering a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship within the healthcare sector.
This partnership between NITDA and ACEPHAP represents a significant step towards leveraging digital technologies to improve healthcare delivery in Nigeria. By focusing on digital literacy, emerging technologies, data security, and fostering innovation, this collaboration has the potential to create a more efficient, accessible, and patient-centered healthcare system.