As conversations around Artificial Intelligence (AI) deepen globally, the application of AI in healthcare has emerged as one of its most promising yet sensitive domains.
In Nigeria, where the healthcare system faces immense strain from underfunding, limited infrastructure, and brain drain, AI presents an opportunity to reimagine patient care.
But there is a looming question: Can we embrace this technology without sidelining the human essence of care?
The AI Promise in African Healthcare
In Nigeria, where medical personnel often operate under enormous pressure, AI has the potential to bridge long-standing gaps in care delivery.
From overburdened teaching hospitals in Lagos to under-equipped clinics in rural Sokoto, AI could provide critical support through:
Remote diagnostics powered by machine learning, giving frontline workers decision support where doctors are scarce.
- Predictive analytics to model disease outbreaks or optimise maternal health interventions.
- AI-augmented telemedicine platforms that help triage and escalate patient cases efficiently.
In one of my co authored research AI Automation Framework for Single Cell Analysis, presented at the BIOTECHNO Conference 2023 I demonstrated how AI-driven automation can process complex biomedical data at scale, improving diagnostic insight and operational efficiency.
The same principles of scalable, explainable, and ethically governed AI can be adapted to strengthen Nigeria’s diagnostic systems, especially where skilled personnel are limited.
I’ve observed growing interest in tools that localise AI models for public health particularly in areas like maternal health and cervical cancer detection.
But innovation is not without its challenges.
The Pitfalls: When Tech Ignores the Human Story
Healthcare is inherently human. It is built on trust, empathy, and relationships. AI systems that are trained on foreign datasets or deployed without understanding cultural context risk becoming not only ineffective, but also dangerous.
Picture a diabetic patient in Ogun State receiving advice from an AI chatbot trained on Western diets and drug protocols.
There’s a very real risk of misdiagnosis or poor outcomes if cultural and socioeconomic factors aren’t embedded in the algorithm.
This is why I strongly advocate for “Trust-by-Design” principles in AI development. AI must not be a black box; it must be interpretable, explainable, and ethical—especially in high-stakes environments like healthcare.
The Data Governance Dilemma
Another critical challenge is data privacy and digital ethics.
Nigeria, like many emerging economies, lacks enforceable data protection standards equivalent to the EU’s GDPR or the US’s HIPAA. Without proper governance, patient data used to train AI models could be mishandled, leading to misuse, breach of consent, or digital exclusion.
Continuously raising awareness around responsible data stewardship, especially in regions where digital inclusion is still a work in progress.
If we want AI to truly support the healthcare system, we must prioritise:
- Ethical AI SLAs and transparency metrics
- Public education on data rights
- In-country capacity to design and audit AI tools, not just import them
Human-in-the-Loop: Why AI Should Empower, Not Replace
AI must be framed as a co-pilot, not a replacement for clinicians.
I advocate for models where AI provides clinical decision support while the final judgment remains with human professionals. This hybrid model is essential in environments where:
- Digital literacy varies
- Emotional intelligence and bedside manner are vital
- Patients value face-to-face reassurance, especially in critical care
What’s Working Already?
There are signs of progress:
- mDoc Nigeria is enabling chronic disease self-management through AI-assisted virtual care.
- Helium Health is digitising patient records in hospitals across West Africa, creating a foundation for smart systems.
- 54Gene is using genomics and AI to understand diseases common to Africans—creating a more inclusive AI health future.
These examples showcase that Nigeria doesn’t have to wait for Silicon Valley solutions. We can innovate from within ethically and inclusively.
Final Reflections: Leading Responsibly in the AI Era
As an advocate of responsible use of I believe Africa can be a testbed for ethical, inclusive AI if we get the fundamentals right.
We need:
- Collaborations between health professionals, AI researchers, and policy leaders
- Mentorship pipelines to upskill local data scientists
- Train local health workers to work alongside AI, not fear it.
- Establish national guidelines for AI ethics, data use, and clinical accountability.
- Build AI tools for Nigeria, in Nigeria, reflecting our people, our conditions, and our context.
- Foster public dialogue so Nigerians understand both the risks and rewards of healthcare AI.
- Public discourse around algorithmic bias, patient rights, and trust
The future of healthcare is not about choosing between man and machine. It’s about designing systems where both works together safely, ethically, and inclusively.
AI can transform African healthcare. But only if we keep people at the centre.
About the Author
Oyetola Florence Idowu is a forward-thinking technology professional specialising in digital transformation and the practical application of Artificial Intelligence in organisational settings. Known for her strategic mindset and passion for innovation, she works at the intersection of data, automation, and user-centred design, helping teams adopt emerging technologies safely and effectively. Oyetola is a published author, speaker, and mentor recognised for championing ethical AI use, promoting digital literacy, and driving technology initiatives that improve efficiency, accessibility, and community impact. As a writer, author and award-winning co-author. Her work in AI and digital tech innovation has been featured in both local and international publications.
