Nigeria Pledges to Drive Digital Health Revolution at HIMSS Eurasia Conference in Turkey
Nigeria has reaffirmed its dedication to speeding up digital innovation in healthcare. This was stated by Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, in a keynote speech at the 2025 HIMSS Eurasia HealthTech Conference & Exhibition in Antalya, Turkey, on November 26, 2025.
Dr. Salako emphasized Nigeria’s commitment to creating a robust, tech-driven, and people-focused health system, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s health sector reform plans, as he addressed global health tech leaders, partners, and innovators.
The Minister commended the Turkish Ministry of Health and the HIMSS Eurasia organizing committee for convening a platform that connects global stakeholders to advance a digitally enabled health future. He noted that this year’s conference themes, ranging from digital hospitals and robotics to AI, genomics, and data-driven innovation, align strongly with Nigeria’s priorities under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative.
Dr. Salako stated further that the global health landscape is rapidly evolving, with increasing population demands, emerging diseases, and rising expectations for quality and accessible healthcare. As such, transformation is no longer optional but essential, noting that Nigeria is fully embracing this imperative.
According to him, the Federal Government of Nigeria is implementing a strategic agenda anchored on four pillars: better governance, quality service delivery, unlocking the healthcare value chain, and strengthening health security. Central to this, he emphasized, is the integration of digital health solutions to improve service delivery, public health surveillance, and system-wide coordination.
The Minister highlighted ongoing government investments in interoperable health systems, robust data governance frameworks, and innovations aimed at improving access for rural and underserved populations.
According to a statement by Alaba Balogun, Health Ministry’s Head of Information and Public Relations, he noted that Nigeria is also deepening collaborations with private-sector innovators, start-ups, and international development partners.
A key component of these efforts is the Nigeria Digital in Health Initiative (NDHI), through which the country is developing a National Digital Health Architecture (NDHA), a unified blueprint expected to eliminate fragmentation and establish sustainable norms for all digital health stakeholders. He also pointed to the development of foundational digital infrastructure such as the Health Information Exchange, shared health records, and national registries to strengthen identity management, service delivery, and workforce planning.
Dr. Salako described the HIMSS Eurasia platform as a strategic opportunity for Nigeria to advance international partnerships, connect with investors, and explore scalable innovations.
He expressed delight at the strong representation of African nations, noting the continent’s shared resolve to leapfrog legacy systems through technology.
As global health increasingly leverages artificial intelligence, robotics, and advanced data analytics, the minister stressed the need for equity, affordability, context-specific solutions, and respect for national data sovereignty—especially for developing countries.
“Our world is connected, and so is our health,” he said. “Together, through partnerships such as this, we can build a healthier, more resilient, and more inclusive world.”
He further expressed optimism that the conference would be educative, engaging, and impactful for all participants.
