By Zainab Bakare
President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO), a new body designed to drive Nigeria’s digital health transformation and strengthen healthcare delivery through technology and data-driven innovation.
The approval, announced in a statement on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, also confirms the appointment of 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 Presidency, the NHTDAO will operate under the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and serve as the central platform for coordinating Nigeria’s digital health agenda.
Rather than replacing existing agencies, the office will work to harmonise efforts across public and private healthcare institutions, establish common digital standards and oversee the implementation of the National Digital Health Architecture approved by the National Council on Health in November 2025.
The Presidency said the new structure is intended to improve collaboration among stakeholders while enhancing the use of technology and data analytics in healthcare planning and service delivery.
To provide strategic oversight, the office will be supervised by a steering committee jointly chaired by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Olaniyi Yusuf.
President Tinubu said the initiative aligns with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is expected to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a secure, interoperable and data-driven healthcare system.
The establishment of the NHTDAO is also expected to strengthen evidence-based decision-making, improve health data management and boost the overall efficiency of healthcare services across the country.
