Ajiboye Charts Future of Nigeria’s Integrated Health Data System

By Tosin Clegg

Nigeria’s ability to respond effectively to public health challenges has long been shaped by the strength—or weakness—of its health information systems. For decades, fragmented data collection, reliance on paper-based reporting, and slow analysis undermined the nation’s capacity to detect outbreaks early and manage health resources efficiently.

This began to change in 2019 with the development of the Integrated Health Data System (IHDS) under the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

At the center of this initiative was Festus Segun Ajiboye, a bioinformatics and statistical systems specialist who, while serving as a Program Analyst at NBS, played a central role in designing and implementing the IHDS.

Today, the system is widely regarded as one of the most significant reforms in Nigeria’s public health infrastructure, enabling real-time tracking of health indicators, epidemic preparedness, and improved accountability in healthcare financing.

From Paper Records to Digital Integration
Before IHDS, Nigeria’s health reporting system struggled with inefficiencies that are still familiar in many low- and middle-income countries.

Health workers at local facilities often recorded data manually, which was then transferred up the chain to state and federal authorities. Delays were common, errors were frequent, and by the time reports reached policymakers, the information was often outdated.

The IHDS introduced a centralized, interoperable digital framework designed to unify disparate sources of health information. By integrating data on maternal health, vaccination coverage, service delivery, and disease incidence into one platform, the system gave health officials access to live dashboards and analytics tools. What once took weeks or months to process could now be viewed in near real time.

This reform proved its value during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nigeria, like many countries, faced immense pressure to track infections, monitor vaccination campaigns, and allocate limited resources effectively.

The IHDS provided an essential backbone, giving decision-makers the ability to see where outbreaks were intensifying and how resources were being deployed.

Health experts credit the system with helping Nigeria mobilize faster and with more transparency than would have been possible under the old, paper-based approach.

Ajiboye’s Contribution
Ajiboye’s expertise in bioinformatics and digital systems was critical in shaping the design of IHDS. Drawing on his background in computer science and computational analysis, he worked with colleagues to embed interoperability standards that allowed the system to link datasets across ministries and agencies.

This meant that health information could be connected to financing flows, service delivery metrics, and education data, painting a fuller picture of the nation’s wellbeing.

Speaking about his experience, Ajiboye explained:
“The aim was not just to collect health data, but to make it actionable.

For Nigeria, this meant building a system where information on disease outbreaks, maternal health, and vaccination could directly inform policy decisions.

Every delay in data is a delay in saving lives.”

Ajiboye also emphasized the importance of embedding quality control measures into the system. By establishing standardized reporting protocols and automated error checks, the IHDS reduced the risk of inaccuracies that had long plagued Nigeria’s health statistics.

Consolidation Still Needed
Despite its achievements, Ajiboye is clear that IHDS is not yet the finished product. He has consistently called for deeper consolidation of health data across different sectors.

“We must strengthen integration across ministries, from health to finance to education, so that every decision is powered by accurate, real-time data,” he noted.

This vision reflects an understanding that health outcomes are shaped not only by clinical services but also by economic and social conditions.

By connecting systems across sectors, Nigeria could better anticipate challenges, allocate resources more effectively, and design policies that address root causes of poor health.

Ajiboye has also urged policymakers to invest in three critical areas:
Training for state-level data officers, ensuring that every state can manage and interpret digital health data effectively.

Expansion of AI-driven predictive analytics, which could help forecast outbreaks and identify vulnerable populations before crises escalate.

Collaboration with international partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and Africa CDC, to align Nigeria’s systems with global health security standards.

Nigeria is not alone in facing the challenge of modernizing health data systems. Across Africa, governments are grappling with how to digitize health records, improve disease surveillance, and meet global reporting requirements.

The Africa CDC has repeatedly emphasized the importance of reliable data for epidemic preparedness, and Nigeria’s experience with IHDS is increasingly seen as a case study in what is possible when technology, policy, and skilled professionals converge.

Yet challenges remain. Funding constraints, uneven digital infrastructure across states, and the need for stronger data governance frameworks all limit the full potential of IHDS.

Ajiboye acknowledges these hurdles but believes they can be overcome with sustained political will and investment.

“Data must be the foundation of Nigeria’s healthcare future,” he said.

“By consolidating systems and making health information actionable, we can build a more resilient nation prepared for any public health challenge.”

As Nigeria continues to reform its health sector, IHDS represents a model for how digital innovation can transform governance.

Ajiboye’s role highlights the importance of investing not only in infrastructure but also in local expertise—scientists, analysts, and technologists capable of tailoring solutions to the country’s unique needs.

The system’s continued success will depend on whether Nigeria can expand its reach to rural areas, ensure sustainable funding, and build the human capital required to manage increasingly complex data environments.

For Ajiboye, the work of modernizing Nigeria’s health data is ongoing. His focus now is on ensuring that IHDS evolves with emerging technologies and remains central to the country’s health security strategy.

The Integrated Health Data System has already reshaped how Nigeria collects, manages, and uses health information.

It has improved epidemic preparedness, strengthened accountability in healthcare financing, and given policymakers tools to act more decisively in moments of crisis.

But as Ajiboye and other experts point out, the task of consolidation and modernization is far from complete.

With further investment in training, predictive analytics, and inter-ministerial collaboration, IHDS could become not just a national asset but a model for other countries in the region.

At the heart of this transformation stands Festus Segun Ajiboye, whose work in bioinformatics and data systems has helped lay the groundwork for a more resilient and responsive Nigerian health system.

His call for deeper integration underscores a simple but urgent message: without strong, connected data, health systems will always be vulnerable. With it, they can save lives.