Musa Ubandawaki, Sokoto
To transform Nigeria’s healthcare landscape, the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria on Monday kicked off its 19th Annual Scientific Conference in Sokoto, spotlighting Artificial Intelligence (AI) and technological innovation as key drivers of medical advancement in the country.
Addressing journalists ahead of the event, the College President, Dr. Peter Ebeigbe, emphasized the need to shift from policy talk to concrete action, urging the adoption of AI-powered solutions across medical education, diagnostics, treatment, and health administration.
Dr. Ebeigbe described the conference as a strategic platform for collaboration among medical professionals, tech innovators, and policymakers, aimed at integrating AI into Nigeria’s healthcare training and delivery systems to build a more effective and future-ready health sector.
Highlighting AI’s transformative potential, he pointed to advances in early disease detection, robotic surgery, personalized medicine, and predictive analytics.
However, he also cautioned that the ethical, legal, and infrastructural challenges surrounding AI adoption must be addressed with urgency and foresight.
“The future of medicine is already unfolding. Artificial Intelligence is reshaping healthcare around the world, and Nigeria must not be left behind.
“calling for coordinated policy support and institutional readiness,” he stated,
A major focus of the conference is the proposed integration of private and corporate healthcare institutions into postgraduate medical training.
This initiative aims to expand training capacity and produce a technologically proficient medical workforce capable of driving innovation nationwide.
The event has attracted a diverse group of participants, including medical academics, AI developers, data scientists, healthcare regulators, frontline practitioners, and students, united in crafting practical strategies for an AI-enabled health system.
Among the most anticipated sessions is a high-level panel discussion on the real-world application of AI in healthcare, addressing critical concerns such as patient data privacy, algorithmic bias, diagnostic accuracy, and regulatory compliance.
Panelists will also explore how AI can help bridge Nigeria’s urban-rural healthcare divide through telemedicine, virtual consultations, and remote diagnostic tools, offering improved access to underserved and marginalized populations.
Dr. Ebeigbe stressed that achieving meaningful change would require substantial investment in digital infrastructure, capacity-building, and ethical governance.
He urged both public and private sectors to increase funding for AI-based health initiatives tailored to Nigeria’s unique needs.
He also called for a multisectoral coalition, comprising government bodies, universities, startups, and international partners, to drive the development and deployment of scalable, AI-driven solutions for public health.
According to the College, the conference aims to produce actionable outcomes, including new policy frameworks, revised medical curricula, and robust implementation strategies to position Nigeria as a leader in AI-driven healthcare innovation.
Radio Nigeria Sokoto reported strong attendance and widespread enthusiasm, with participants expressing hope that the conference will be a turning point for digital transformation in Nigerian healthcare, especially amid rising health challenges and systemic inefficiencies.
As the conference continues through the week, attention remains fixed on Sokoto, where the blueprint for a technologically advanced, AI-powered future in Nigerian medicine is beginning to take shape.
