In a bid to improve disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention, computational bioinformatics expert, Festus Segun Ajiboye, has highlighted the need to integrate biotechnology into Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Speaking with The Guardian recently, he pointed out how biotechnology, particularly computational bioinformatics, can bridge the gap between science and technology to deliver better healthcare solutions for Nigerians.

According to him, the country still grapples with the burden of malaria, HIV, tuberculosis, sickle cell disease and other health challenges, which makes innovation not just important but urgent.

“Across the globe, technology is rewriting what is possible in healthcare and we cannot afford to be left behind,” he said. Ajiboye explained that computational bioinformatics uses computer programs, algorithms and data analysis to make sense of biological information.

By doing so, it identifies the genetic causes of diseases, supports the development of new medicines or vaccines and predicts how illnesses may progress or how patients will respond to treatment.

“This is not about building convenience apps; it is about engineering digital frameworks that can forecast disease risk, model therapeutic responses, and guide clinical interventions,” he said.

Speaking further, he stressed the potential impact for Nigeria, citing examples of how bioinformatics-powered platforms can enable doctors detect sickle cell complications earlier and inform more effective malaria treatments.

“The cost savings for the health system, when diseases are diagnosed sooner and treated more effectively, are immense,” he noted. Ajiboye’s academic background spans Computer Engineering at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, a Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Ibadan, and a Master’s in Bioinformatics at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) United States of America.

His systems are designed to be scalable, adaptable and intended for real-world use in hospitals, laboratories and public health agencies.He was named runner-up at the Three-Minute Thesis Competition at IUPUI, received the Outstanding Contribution to Research and Innovation Award from NIPES in March 2025, and has published in peer-reviewed outlets such as the International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews.

Stressing that computational bioinformatics is not just relevant but essential for Nigeria’s healthcare future, he said, “The next frontier in Nigerian healthcare lies in merging data, technology, and biology into a unified system of solutions. Nigeria has the talent, the world has set the blueprint and the challenge now is to act,” he concluded.

Ajiboye is a leading expert in computational bioinformatics in Nigeria and combines his background in engineering, computer science, and bioinformatics to drive innovation in healthcare research and practice.