On June 17, 2025, SCIDaR co-hosted a Stakeholder Alignment Workshop in Abuja, focused on how health-tech can support Nigeria’s push toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Held under the Investing in Innovation Africa (i3) program, the event brought together government agencies, donor partners, private sector players, innovators, and ecosystem leaders. Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB), Salient Advisory, and the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) co-convened alongside SCIDaR.
Participants examined where innovation is already making a difference and where persistent gaps remain. Breakout sessions highlighted government priorities, discussed keeping stakeholders engaged, and surfaced ideas for financing and scaling promising solutions.
One thing was clear: there’s a growing appetite to tackle persistent UHC barriers through innovation. These include challenges like limited access to care in rural areas, weak referral systems, fragmented service delivery, and gaps in financing that leave many households vulnerable to out-of-pocket costs. Participants highlighted the role of health-tech in addressing these issues, from improving supply chains and patient tracking to extending services to underserved populations. This aligns with i3’s mission to connect local innovators with the partners they need to grow and have a real health system impact.
SCIDaR will lead a market analysis to understand the UHC innovation landscape, identify priority areas for support, and shape the next phase of investment and engagement.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Muyi Aina, Executive Director of NPHCDA, said, “Success for this program means positioning the health sector as a driver of economic growth in Nigeria.”
That message captured the workshop’s core takeaway: investing in innovation isn’t just good for health, it’s part of building a stronger economy.
Since its launch in 2022, the i3 program has supported 60 African startups. These companies have reached 72,000 facilities, enabled 198 million patient visits, and protected 250 million health products. Over 120 partnerships have been signed, with 51 led by women. Together, the innovators have created 942 jobs and raised $50 million in follow-on funding.
For a deeper dive into the insights and outcomes from this workshop, we have compiled a comprehensive report capturing key discussions, actionable recommendations, and next steps agreed upon by participants. Click below to access the report and explore the insights that shaped this event.
