The Health Writers Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) has congratulated former Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Dr Obi Peter Adigwe, on his appointment as the pioneer National Coordinator of the newly established National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO).
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, in a directive announced on June 26, approved the establishment of the NHTDAO and appointed Dr Adigwe to lead the office.
In a statement jointly signed by its President, Vivian Ihechu, and Secretary, Temitope Obayendo, HEWAN described the appointment as a well-deserved recognition of Dr Adigwe’s outstanding contributions to pharmaceutical research, digital innovation and health systems strengthening in Nigeria.
The association said Dr Adigwe’s track record in leveraging science, artificial intelligence, translational research and technology transfer makes him uniquely qualified to drive Nigeria’s digital health agenda.
According to HEWAN, his leadership at NIPRD, which earned the institute global recognition, demonstrated his capacity to lead the country’s transition towards a secure, interoperable and data-driven healthcare ecosystem.
While congratulating the new National Coordinator, the association urged him to prioritise several pressing public health issues that require immediate attention.
Among the priorities identified by HEWAN are the development of a national antimicrobial resistance surveillance system, a real-time disease outbreak intelligence platform, maternal and child health dashboards, an integrated national digital health records system, and the establishment of national health data standards and interoperability frameworks.
The association noted that these initiatives would improve evidence-based decision-making, enable more efficient allocation of resources by governments at all levels, strengthen emergency response systems and facilitate effective monitoring of national health goals.
HEWAN also pledged its support for the new office, saying it stands ready to promote the activities of the NHTDAO through impactful and evidence-based health reporting aimed at improving health outcomes in Nigeria.
The association highlighted Dr Adigwe’s achievements during his two-term tenure as Director-General of NIPRD, describing his leadership as transformative.
According to HEWAN, Dr Adigwe repositioned the institute from an underfunded agency into a globally recognised centre of excellence in pharmaceutical research and development.
Among his major achievements was leading the process that secured an €18 million European Union grant for local vaccine research and development, described as the largest grant of its kind in Africa.
He also attracted several other major funding opportunities, including a ¥300 million nanotechnology grant, an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) development grant from Afreximbank and a Drug Development Mega Grant from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
The association further recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr Adigwe led NIPRD to conduct what it described as the world’s first scientific analysis that debunked claims surrounding Madagascar’s COVID-Organics preparation, earning international recognition for Nigerian scientific integrity and evidence-based policy making.
HEWAN also credited him with pioneering the deployment of artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, genom sequencing and nanotechnology at NIPRD and championing the development and validation of indigenous herbal medicines, including research into treatments for sickle cell disease.
The association noted that under his leadership, NIPRD trained thousands of traditional medicine practitioners and supported indigenous pharmaceutical manufacturers to improve their readiness for World Health Organization (WHO) pre-qualification.
“Dr Adigwe has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to transforming healthcare delivery in Nigeria through research and innovation. His achievements at NIPRD prove that he does not just manage institutions—he transforms them,” the association stated.
It added that the establishment of the NHTDAO under his leadership represents a major milestone for the country and expressed confidence that his administrative experience and strategic vision would drive the implementation of Nigeria’s National Digital Health Architecture and improve health outcomes.
HEWAN also commended President Tinubu and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, for their commitment to the structural and technological transformation of the health sector.
The association wished Dr Adigwe good health, wisdom and a successful tenure in his new national assignment.
