Health experts, government officials, and technology innovators in Nigeria have collectively urged the responsible deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to significantly enhance the nation's healthcare system. Their call, made at a capacity-building workshop on Artificial Intelligence for Public Health organized by the Africa Hub for Innovation and Development in Abuja, emphasized AI's potential to boost disease surveillance and improve access to care across the country.

Dr. Leke Ojewale, Senior Technical Advisor to the Minister of Health on Digital Health, revealed that the Federal Ministry of Health is actively establishing the foundation for AI integration through the Nigeria Digital Health Architecture (NDHA). This national platform is designed to unify all digital health tools, built upon three essential registries: the client registry (linked to the National Identification Number), the health facility registry, and the healthcare worker registry. These foundational elements are crucial for accurate identity management and seamless data sharing throughout the health system, ultimately powering the country's Health Information Exchange, which will in turn support AI-driven tools for improved healthcare delivery nationwide. Dr. Ojewale also directed Nigerians to digitalhealth.gov.ng for familiarization with the digital health framework, which outlines the standards and regulations governing digital and AI technologies in the health sector.

Dr. Francis Ohanyido, Director-General of the West African Institute of Public Health, articulated that AI should be perceived as a tool for efficiency rather than a threat to employment. He emphasized that AI aims to enhance productivity, warning that professionals who fail to adapt and upskill may be left behind. Dr. Ohanyido stressed the necessity for Nigeria to engage deliberately with AI by promoting widespread awareness, establishing robust regulatory guardrails, and actively preventing misuse, especially concerning misinformation, image manipulation, and data privacy.

Highlighting the dual nature of AI, Dr. Gbenga Ijaodola, a Deputy Director at the Department of Research and Statistics, Federal Ministry of Health, stated, "Artificial intelligence is a two-edged sword. It can yield great benefits or cause harm if not properly guided." He underscored the critical need for strong ethical frameworks to ensure its responsible application, noting that government agencies are already developing such guidelines.

Dr. Bunmi Ajala, National Director of the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), discussed the broad transformative impact of AI across various health domains, including diagnostics, drug discovery, logistics, personalized treatment, and disease surveillance. She explained that the government is adopting a "human-in-the-loop" approach to foster trust, accountability, and safety in AI applications, particularly within healthcare delivery.

Dr. Kunle Kakanfo, Founder of the Africa Hub for Innovation and Development and the workshop's convener, affirmed the initiative's dedication to leveraging AI for social good beyond mere commercial objectives. "Our focus is to ensure AI solutions reach the common man, improving livelihoods, health outcomes, and education," he stated. The workshop is training participants from over 40 public health and development organizations on the responsible application of AI. Dr. Kakanfo also revealed the establishment of an AI for Social Good Innovation Hub in Abuja, designed to foster collaboration, co-creation, and the development of AI-driven solutions specifically tailored to Nigeria’s needs. He concluded by noting that the workshop's discussions would contribute to the formulation of a national AI framework for health, a precursor to the first National AI in Health Conference scheduled for Abuja next year.