Medical experts and surgeons have called for the accelerated adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) across Nigeria’s healthcare sector, saying the technology has the potential to improve patient outcomes, strengthen diagnostics, enhance disease surveillance, and address longstanding healthcare challenges.
The call was made during the Seventh Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the University of Ilorin Medical Class of 2009, where healthcare professionals discussed the growing role of emerging technologies in modern medicine and the future of healthcare in Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, a United States and United Kingdom-trained clinical AI specialist, Dr Lawal Lukman, said Nigeria possesses one of the largest repositories of Black clinical data in the world, describing it as an untapped resource capable of driving innovation in healthcare and medical research.
According to him, many existing artificial intelligence models are not adequately trained on African datasets, making them less effective when deployed in African healthcare settings.
“Nigeria hosts the largest concentration of Black clinical data globally,” Lukman said.
He explained that the country’s vast pool of clinical information could help improve the accuracy of AI-powered healthcare tools while ensuring that medical technologies are better suited to local realities and disease patterns.
Lukman also stressed the need for healthcare institutions to improve the quality of their data collection and record-keeping systems.
“Properly organised clinical records could attract major international research collaborations, improve clinical decision-making, and create new revenue-generating opportunities,” he said.
“If Nigeria can structure and secure its clinical data, the world will come here to train their models.”
The experts noted that artificial intelligence is increasingly transforming healthcare systems worldwide by assisting doctors in diagnosing diseases, predicting health risks, supporting treatment decisions, and improving hospital operations.
They argued that Nigeria cannot afford to remain on the sidelines as other countries leverage the technology to improve healthcare access and efficiency.
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Healthcare professionals at the conference observed that AI could play a critical role in addressing some of Nigeria’s most pressing healthcare challenges, including shortages of medical personnel, limited access to specialists in rural communities, delayed diagnoses, and inefficiencies in patient management.
They added that AI-powered tools could assist clinicians in analysing medical images, identifying disease patterns, managing patient records, and delivering remote healthcare services to underserved populations.
Experts also pointed to growing examples of AI applications in telemedicine, health information systems, public health campaigns, and healthcare administration as evidence that the technology is already reshaping healthcare delivery.
Despite its promise, stakeholders acknowledged that significant obstacles remain.
Among the challenges identified were inadequate digital infrastructure, poor internet connectivity, inconsistent electricity supply, limited funding, low levels of digital literacy, and the continued reliance on paper-based medical records in many healthcare facilities.
The experts stressed that addressing these barriers would be essential to unlocking the full benefits of artificial intelligence within the healthcare sector.
They also called for stronger policies on data governance, cybersecurity, and ethical AI deployment to ensure that patient information remains protected while innovation is encouraged.
According to participants, investments in healthcare digitisation, workforce training, and technology infrastructure will be necessary if Nigeria hopes to compete in the rapidly evolving global healthcare landscape.
Medical researchers have consistently highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in healthcare, noting that the technology can help improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce operational costs, streamline clinical workflows, and support evidence-based decision-making.
Experts further argued that AI should be viewed as a tool to support healthcare professionals rather than replace them.
They explained that while AI systems can process large volumes of information quickly and identify patterns that might otherwise be missed, human expertise remains essential for clinical judgment, patient care, and ethical decision-making.
The renewed push for AI adoption comes at a time when governments, healthcare institutions, and technology companies across the world are investing heavily in artificial intelligence to strengthen healthcare systems and improve public health outcomes.
For Nigerian surgeons and healthcare leaders, the consensus is clear: embracing artificial intelligence is no longer a future aspiration but an urgent necessity.
As healthcare demands continue to rise amid infrastructure gaps and workforce shortages, experts believe AI could become one of the most powerful tools available to transform healthcare delivery, expand access to quality medical services, and improve patient outcomes across Nigeria.
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Bio: Ugochukwu is a freelance journalist and Editor at AIbase.ng, with a strong professional focus on investigative reporting. He holds a degree in Mass Communication and brings extensive experience in news gathering, reporting, and editorial writing. With over a decade of active engagement across diverse news outlets, he contributes in-depth analytical, practical, and expository articles exploring artificial intelligence and its real-world impact. His seasoned newsroom experience and well-established information networks provide AIbase.ng with credible, timely, and high-quality coverage of emerging AI developments.