Health HMS Salako, WHO, World Bank Officials To speak At Abuja AI Health Summit
Dr. Nafisat Makinɗe, Abuja
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Adekunle Salako and other Nigerian and international health experts are expected to speak at the Artificial Intelligence in Health Summit scheduled for Oct. 19 and 20 in Abuja.
The summit, convened by the Africa Hub for Innovation and Development, will bring together policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, technology companies and development partners to explore practical ways of integrating artificial intelligence into healthcare systems in Nigeria and across Africa. The event will hold at the TY Danjuma Foundation Building in Abuja.
Other speakers listed for the summit include presidential health adviser Salma Ibrahim Anas, World Health Organization country representative Pavel Ursu, World Bank digital health programme lead Marelize Gorgens, and officials of the National Information Technology Development Agency, Smart Africa, the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, and the Clinton Health Access Initiative.
The meeting comes as Nigeria faces persistent healthcare challenges, including shortages of medical personnel, high out-of-pocket spending and uneven access to essential services. Organisers say the summit will focus on moving discussions about AI beyond its potential benefits to practical approaches that can improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
At a pre-summit media briefing, Africa Hub for Innovation and Development founder Kunle Kakanfo said countries must address infrastructure, governance, human capacity and policy requirements to make AI effective and sustainable. The News Agency of Nigeria has also reported on calls for AI to help reduce healthcare costs and expand access to primary healthcare.
Discussions at the summit are expected to cover plenary sessions, research presentations and technology showcases, with participants examining how AI tools can be developed and adopted responsibly within existing health systems. The official programme also includes opportunities for stakeholders to exchange ideas and explore partnerships.
A Women in AI and Health breakfast is scheduled for Oct. 19 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. under the theme, “Leading the Future: Women’s Voices Shaping AI and Health in Africa.” The session will address women’s participation in decisions on AI strategy, regulation, procurement and investment in healthcare.
The summit is expected to provide a platform for government officials, health professionals and technology stakeholders to identify practical priorities for responsible AI adoption. Its wider challenge will be translating discussions into policies, partnerships and solutions that strengthen healthcare systems and improve access to care.