PSHAN Champions AI, Storytelling Tools to Transform Nigeria’s Health Sector

Ayodeji Ake

Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN) in collaboration with World Health Expo (WHX) Lagos has called for a radical rethinking of Nigeria’s healthcare system through the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI), creative storytelling, and multi-sector partnerships.

At its 2025 Annual Conference with the theme: ‘The Creative Catalyst: Driving Sustainable Healthcare Solutions in West Africa’, held in Lagos recently, PSHAN gathered leading voices from the healthcare, creative, and technology sectors to explore bold, scalable models for improving health outcomes across the region.

In her opening address, PSHAN’s Managing Director and CEO, Dr. Tinuola Akinbolagbe, emphasized that the time had come to shift the narrative around healthcare from despair to opportunity.

He said: “Healthcare in Nigeria should no longer be viewed as a system to be fixed alone; it must also be a story to be told. “We’re calling on innovators, storytellers, private sector players, and policymakers to join us in co-creating solutions that are as imaginative as they are effective.”

Also speaking at the event, the Chair of the Conference and Managing Director/CEO of Aliko Dangote Foundation, Mrs. Zouera Youssoufou, highlighted the role of PSHAN’s flagship initiative, the Adopt-A-Healthcare Facility Programme (ADHFP) in improving access to care through private sector participation.

Youssoufou said: “We’re inviting private partners to take ownership of one primary healthcare facility in every local government in Nigeria. This is how we bridge the gap between public effort and community need.”

The keynote Speaker, Mr. Fred Swaniker, the founder and CEO of Sand Technologies, challenged attendees to embrace innovative thinking in solving the continent’s health crisis.

Citing the staggering doctor-to-patient ratio of 1:9,000 in Nigeria, he proposed AI-powered diagnostic tools and real-time data platforms as a way to leapfrog traditional healthcare constraints.

“Imagine the best doctor in the world available in every village 24/7 for as little as $20 a year. That is what AI can offer African healthcare. But it’s not just about the tech, it’s about telling stories that connect, educate, and drive adoption,” Swaniker said.