By Ayomide Otitoju
The Lagos State Government has launched the maiden Lagos Digital Health Innovation Challenge, reaffirming its commitment to transforming healthcare delivery through technology-driven solutions.
The event, held on Saturday at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium in Alausa, Ikeja, brought together government officials, health-tech innovators, technology experts, development partners and investors to showcase digital solutions aimed at improving healthcare access, efficiency and quality across the state.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, described the initiative as a platform for creating an enabling environment where innovators can develop practical solutions to healthcare challenges.
He commended the participants for presenting innovative applications with the potential to strengthen healthcare delivery in Lagos.
According to Abayomi, the solutions showcased during the competition focused on key areas such as emergency care, health insurance, sickle cell disease management, neonatal survival, medication adherence and post-hospital care, all of which align with the state’s healthcare priorities.
He noted that digital technology has already transformed healthcare delivery in Lagos, citing the state’s home-based management of COVID-19 patients during the pandemic as an example of how innovation can extend healthcare services beyond hospital settings.
The commissioner disclosed that the Lagos State Smart Health Information Platform (SHIP), the state’s flagship digital health initiative, is about 30 per cent into its first phase of implementation across public health facilities and will later be expanded to the private sector.
He said SHIP is expected to synchronise health records, improve healthcare planning, strengthen artificial intelligence applications and support predictive healthcare while maintaining high standards of cybersecurity and data protection.
Abayomi explained that the Digital Health Innovation Challenge was created to encourage the development of interoperable solutions capable of integrating with SHIP, adding that the state would continue investing in digital transformation, preventive healthcare and public-private partnerships.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Dayo Lajide, described the challenge as a strategic platform connecting innovators, healthcare professionals, investors and policymakers to develop practical digital health solutions.
She assured participants of the state’s commitment to supporting innovation through mentorship, technical assistance and collaboration beyond the competition.
Lajide encouraged finalists to refine their innovations using feedback received during the programme, adding that even non-winning participants would continue to receive support to prepare their solutions for possible adoption within the state’s healthcare system.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Tiwalade Adeyinka Sorungbe, urged healthcare professionals to strengthen their digital skills and assured innovators of the ministry’s continued support.
Representing the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Chief Youth Development Officer Patience Okeke described the initiative as an opportunity to empower young innovators and researchers to develop practical healthcare solutions.
Providing an overview of the programme, Head of the Digital Health Unit, Dr. Adebanke Odunsi, said the challenge was established to address gaps in scalability, sustainability and integration identified in many health innovation proposals.
She disclosed that more than 40 applications were received, with the top 10 finalists selected after a rigorous evaluation process.
Odunsi added that participants would continue to benefit from mentorship, partnerships and funding opportunities, regardless of the competition’s outcome.
A member of the judging panel and Chief Executive Officer of ABC Health, Dr. Moris Atoki, praised the quality of the innovations presented and encouraged participants to remain committed to developing solutions capable of transforming healthcare delivery.
She also revealed that each innovator had been assigned a mentor to support the further development of their projects.
At the close of the competition, Warrior AI of LASUTH Ikeja, Pierflow Lens by Pierflow and Emergibridge by Lifeline emerged as the top three innovations, highlighting the growing potential of locally developed digital technologies to support Lagos State’s vision of building a smarter and more efficient healthcare system.
