The Group Managing Director of ipNX Nigeria, Ejovi Aror, has urged the Federal Government and stakeholders in the healthcare sector to adopt a coordinated national strategy for Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration in medical practice.

Aror made the appeal at the inaugural Nigeria AI Forum for Medical Directors Workshop, which was held at the Obafemi Awolowo University ICT-Driven Knowledge Park, Ile-Ife. The workshop, themed “Transforming Healthcare: AI-Driven Solutions for Nigeria’s Medical Future,” brought together medical directors, researchers, and clinicians from across Nigeria and parts of Africa.

He said a clearly defined framework would be necessary to establish standards for data governance, ethics, and infrastructure, noting that AI could significantly improve patient outcomes, clinical efficiency, and service delivery nationwide.

“This is bigger than the government or any one company, it requires a coalition: government, academia, hospitals, telcos, regulators, and innovators,” Aror said.

He also explained that ipNX had supported the establishment of an AI Studio at Obafemi Awolowo University, a project he said demonstrated the company’s commitment to research and innovation beyond network development.

The forum also witnessed the induction of the Nigerian Healthcare AI Implementation Special Aid Group, a body expected to help coordinate policy and practice in the emerging field.

Aror stressed that a reliable backbone infrastructure would be essential to support digital healthcare, drawing parallels with past innovations in the financial sector.

“There was no infrastructure when we began building the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System, but we crafted solutions to address the challenge. I am confident we can do the same for AI in medical practice,” he said.

He added that Nigeria’s experience in creating strong interconnections between banks, the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System, and the Central Bank of Nigeria could serve as a model for healthcare digitisation.

“If we could build a reliable financial backbone, then we could replicate the same in healthcare. The talent is here to build and sustain it,” he said.