President Tinubu Sanctions New Health Technology Office, Dr. Adigwe Named Pioneer Chief

President Bola Tinubu has given his assent to the creation of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office, a new body designed to spearhead Nigeria's digital health strategy. In a related development, Dr. Obi Adigwe, who currently serves as the Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), has been appointed as the inaugural National Coordinator for this office. This significant announcement was communicated on Friday via a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, the President's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.

The newly established office will operate under the purview of the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare. Its mandate is to function as a central national platform for orchestrating the country's digital health initiatives. Importantly, the statement clarified that this new agency will not usurp the existing statutory responsibilities of other health institutions. Instead, it aims to bolster and not replace the functions of relevant departments and agencies.

Furthermore, the office will be instrumental in harmonizing and empowering both public and private entities within the health system. It is tasked with establishing the necessary standards to interconnect these various bodies and to bring into effect the National Digital Health Architecture, which received approval from the National Council on Health in November 2025. Dr. Adigwe is set to lead this pivotal office as its first National Coordinator.

Oversight for the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office will be provided by a steering committee. This committee will be co-chaired by Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, and Olaniyi Yusuf, who is the Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group. The Presidency conveyed President Tinubu's expectation that the NHTDAO will significantly accelerate Nigeria's move towards a secure, interoperable, and data-driven health system, ultimately enhancing health outcomes for all citizens, in alignment with his administration's Renewed Hope Agenda.