PSHAN Leads Rethinking Of Nigeria’s Health Sector With AI & Story Telling Tools

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 themed “The Creative Catalyst: Driving Sustainable Healthcare Solutions in West Africa,” held at the Landmark Centre, Lagos, 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. “Healthcare in Nigeria should no longer be viewed as a system to be fixed alone; it must also be a story to be told,” she said. “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 MD/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. “We’re inviting private partners to take ownership of one primary healthcare facility in every local government in Nigeria,” Youssoufou said. “This is how we bridge the gap between public effort and community need.”

The keynote speaker, Mr. Fred Swaniker, 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, Swaniker proposed AI-powered diagnostic tools atnd 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,” Swaniker said. “But it’s not just about the tech: it’s about telling stories that connect, educate, and drive adoption.”

That call to integrate storytelling as a tool for public health transformation was echoed by digital health advocate and medical doctor, Dr. Chinonso Egemba, popularly known as Aproko Doctor. “Health facts alone don’t move people, stories do,” he noted during a panel session. “When people see their own lives reflected on screen or hear messages in their local language, health information becomes relatable, trusted, and more likely to be acted upon.”

The panel discussion, moderated by creative expert Mr. Amana Agu, also featured Nollywood icons Segun Arinze and Ireti Doyle, dance and fitness entrepreneur Dr. Kaffy Shafau, and music executive Mr. Abuchi Peter Ugwu. Together, they explored the intersections of media, music, film, and public health advocacy.

In a masterclass session, Mr. Amaechi Okobi, Chief Brand and Communications Officer at Access Holdings, expanded the conversation around storytelling as a leadership tool. “Storytelling humanizes healthcare. It’s how we build empathy, shift mindsets, and mobilise funding. Data tells us what is happening, stories tell us why we should care,” Okobi explained.

Dr. Kemi DaSilva-Ibru, founder of the Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF), led a session on the role of multi-sector collaboration in reimagining women’s health. “We must tackle gender-based violence, maternal mortality, and health inequity with survivor-centered care and policy advocacy,” she stressed.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Clifford Egbomeade, PSHAN’s Head of Corporate Communications, emphasized that the future of healthcare in Nigeria will not be inherited rather it must be envisioned, built, and collectively owned by all of us.

At the conclusion of the conference, PSHAN released a communiqué with key recommendations, including the need to mainstream storytelling in health communication, scale up digital tools and AI-assisted diagnostics, expand public-private healthcare integration, and increase legislative and budgetary support for health innovation.

The 2025 PSHAN Annual Conference is a high-level convening of thought leaders, industry experts, government officials, policymakers and private executives, united by a shared commitment to advancing healthcare innovation and investments.