Technovate: Shaping the Future of Healthcare Delivery and Talent in Nigeria

The Journey from the Digital Health Transformation Summit 

In November 2023, Reinventing Healthcare in Africa (RHA) hosted the Digital Health Transformation Summit, an event that served as a critical turning point for the future of healthcare innovation in Nigeria. The summit brought together a variety of influential figures, including the Lagos State Commissioner of Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, the Minister of Wealth Creation Strategies, Hon. Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, and the Lagos State NMA Chairman, Dr. Benjamin Olowojebutu. These key stakeholders from the healthcare and tech sectors engaged in powerful discussions on how digital health could revolutionize access to healthcare across Nigeria, with a particular focus on Lagos. 

As we delved deeper into the state of healthcare during the summit, two crucial insights emerged: 

1. The Need for Healthcare Providers to Embrace Digital Solutions: In a country where healthcare infrastructure often lags behind global standards, the adoption of digital health tools was seen as a clear pathway to improving both the quality and accessibility of care. Whether it was telemedicine, electronic health records, or AI-assisted diagnostics, the message was clear: Nigeria's healthcare system had to evolve with the times. 

2. Empowering Young Nigerian Talent: Another key takeaway was the realization that the healthcare industry's digital transformation required a new generation of innovators. Nigeria is home to a wealth of untapped talent, particularly among young professionals with backgrounds in healthcare and computer science. However, many of these individuals lacked the practical training needed to apply their knowledge to digital health solutions. 

These insights solidified our mission at RHA to bridge the gap between healthcare and technology in Nigeria. Following the summit, we launched a series of initiatives to bring digital health closer to healthcare providers and young professionals alike. One such initiative was the "Getting Started with Your Telehealth Practice" webinar held earlier this year.

In collaboration with WellnessWits, we provided healthcare providers with the tools and knowledge they needed to expand and scale their digital practices. 

However, we realized that if we wanted to create a sustainable impact on the healthcare system, we needed to look beyond immediate solutions and foster long-term growth in the digital health space. And so, TECHNOVATE was born. 

What is TECHNOVATE? 

TECHNOVATE is our digital health fellowship program, designed to provide early-career professionals with hands-on experience in digital health innovation. The fellowship focuses on equipping participants with the skills to develop and implement digital health tools that can solve real-world problems, especially in the Nigerian context. 

Building on the momentum from the summit and the webinar series, TECHNOVATE addresses the core challenges discussed at the Digital Health Transformation Summit: 

• Empowering Providers: By training participants in telemedicine, AI, and health informatics, the fellowship equips them to build solutions that support healthcare providers in adopting digital health tools. 

• Building Young Innovators: By offering practical experience and mentorship, TECHNOVATE helps young Nigerians transition from being learners to becoming innovators in the digital health space. Participants work on projects that directly impact chronic disease management, healthcare access, and patient engagement, preparing them to be the future leaders of digital health in Nigeria. 

The Future of Healthcare Innovation in Nigeria 

With TECHNOVATE, we aim to create a pipeline of talent that will drive Nigeria’s healthcare system into the future. The combination of innovative projects, mentorship, and real-world experience offered through the fellowship ensures that our participants are not only prepared to meet the challenges of today’s healthcare system but also poised to create the solutions of tomorrow. 

TECHNOVATE is more than just a fellowship; it’s a movement. By investing in young talent and building bridges between healthcare and technology, we are laying the foundation for a healthier, more connected Nigeria. As we look forward, the vision is clear: digital health is not just the future of healthcare, it’s the key to making quality healthcare accessible to all.