Key players from Nigeria's health and technology sectors are urging the government to embrace artificial intelligence within the country's primary healthcare system. They argue that AI can dramatically improve service delivery, enhance disease tracking, lower costs, and make quality care more accessible to all Nigerians.
Major Potential, Significant Hurdles
This push came during a recent panel discussion titled "Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Primary Healthcare in Nigeria," organized by Artificial Intelligence for Social Impact and Development. While participants unanimously agreed on AI's transformative potential for Primary Health Centres (PHCs), they issued a strong warning. They stated that structural weaknesses, unclear regulations, and a lack of skilled personnel pose serious threats to successful implementation.
Dr. Cornelius Ohonsi, Programme Manager at the Nigeria AI Collective, set the stage by criticizing the country's disjointed approach to AI. He emphasized the urgent need for cohesive systems and proper governance. "If we don't address these issues, no magic will happen in the PHCs," Ohonsi stated. He pointed out the persistent problem of data existing in isolated silos and the absence of clear regulatory principles for healthcare AI.
Building Trust and Readiness is Key
Dr. Kemisola Agbaoye, Director of Programmes at Nigeria Health Watch, identified core challenges. She listed poor data quality, inadequate infrastructure, limited workforce skills, and a deficit of public trust as the main barriers. Agbaoye stressed that reliable data is the foundation of any functional AI system.
"When I think about primary healthcare workers in rural areas who have little or no understanding of what AI is or how it can support their work, it becomes clear that skills are a major issue," she explained. She also highlighted the trust factor, noting that communities need assurance when health workers begin using AI tools. While acknowledging progress, Agbaoye questioned if Nigeria is truly ready for large-scale AI deployment in healthcare, concluding, "Not yet."
AI as a Tool for Leapfrogging Challenges
On the opportunity side, Dr. Kunle Kakanfo, Founder of Artificial Intelligence for Social Impact and Development, presented AI as a chance for Nigeria to overcome long-standing healthcare obstacles. He noted AI is already aiding in task-shifting, clinical decisions, and optimizing the use of scarce health personnel.
"We are seeing AI being used for resource planning, predictive analysis to forecast disease outbreaks and support surveillance," Kakanfo said. He added that AI-powered chatbots are now deployed for initial patient assessment, helping to identify symptoms and allowing health workers to prioritize care. He revealed the global AI market is projected to hit about $1.3 trillion by 2032, and Nigeria's health and digital tech market, valued at over $1.5 billion, shows strong potential for AI-driven solutions.
Abdul Yahaya, Deputy Director of Global Health Informatics at eHealth Africa (eHA), provided a sobering assessment, noting Nigeria's current low ranking on the AI readiness index. He urged government investment in digital public infrastructure. "AI can help scale what already works by replicating effective interventions across thousands or even millions of patients," Yahaya argued. He warned that ignoring AI will make achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) extremely difficult.
Dr. Otse Ogorry, Country Director of the Palladium Data FI Project, spotlighted the critical regulatory void. He stated that effective governance is essential for responsible AI use and confirmed that Nigeria lacks a dedicated national AI framework. "The government needs clear AI regulations," Ogorry asserted, suggesting global standards like the EU's GDPR could serve as a starting point for developing Nigeria's own context-specific rules.
The consensus from the December 25, 2025, event is clear: AI holds immense promise for revolutionizing primary healthcare in Nigeria, but its success hinges on strategic investment, robust regulation, capacity building, and winning the public's trust.
