Nigeria, Delta Take Centre Stage at Global Summit on Sustainable Health

…Delta State Webmaster, Louis Osiobe, speaks on digital health, AI and responsible innovation at Thailand summit

Nigeria and Delta State were represented at the Second World Summit on Sustainable Health and Well-Being held at the United Nations Conference Centre in Thailand, where global experts and policymakers discussed the future of sustainable healthcare.

The summit brought together delegates from more than 60 countries, including government officials, ambassadors, traditional leaders, industry professionals, private-sector representatives, multinational organisations and other stakeholders.

Representing Nigeria was Louis Zuokumor Osiobe, Delta State Webmaster and technology and innovation professional, who participated in discussions on digital transformation, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and sustainable healthcare.

Osiobe spoke on “Digital Health, Artificial Intelligence and Responsible Innovation in Sustaining Global Health and Well-Being.”

He said although digital technology had transformed communication and access to information globally, access to reliable healthcare had not advanced at the same pace.

According to him, millions of people now obtain health-related information through social media and other digital platforms, making it increasingly important to distinguish between information, knowledge and scientifically verified evidence.

He warned that the spread of unverified health information could influence individual health decisions and have implications for mental and social well-being.

Osiobe therefore called for digital health policies that would not only make information available but also promote access to reliable, evidence-based and professionally verified healthcare information.

Osiobe Advocates Stronger Telemedicine

A major focus of his intervention was the role of telemedicine in expanding access to healthcare. Osiobe proposed the development of secure digital pathways through which individuals could, where legally and clinically appropriate, connect with verified and qualified healthcare professionals, including specialists outside their immediate geographical locations.

He said such systems could help reduce geographical barriers and enable people to access professional healthcare expertise regardless of where they live.

The Delta State Webmaster also highlighted the potential applications of Artificial Intelligence in health education, language translation, medical research, data analysis, early identification of health risks and access to reliable health information.

However, he stressed that AI should support rather than replace qualified healthcare professionals.

He called for human oversight, ethical standards, appropriate safeguards and reliance on scientific evidence in the deployment of AI in healthcare.

Delta’s Digital Transformation Agenda

Speaking on the significance of his participation, Osiobe expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and Delta State Government for creating opportunities for Nigerian professionals to participate in international engagements.

He specifically acknowledged the Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and the Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, for their roles in the state’s healthcare agenda and expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Delta State Government, noting that international engagements provided opportunities for Nigerian professionals to exchange knowledge and bring global perspectives back home.

Osiobe said his participation represented more than a personal milestone, describing it as an opportunity to demonstrate the capacity of Nigerian professionals to contribute to international discussions on technology, healthcare and sustainable development.

He urged Nigerians and Deltans to remain confident in the country’s potential and called for increased investment in knowledge, innovation, digital infrastructure and professional development.

According to him, Nigeria’s participation in international conversations on technology and healthcare underscores the need to create more opportunities for Nigerian professionals to contribute to global policy discussions.

The summit provided a platform for participating countries and organisations to exchange ideas on sustainable healthcare and examine the role of technology and innovation in addressing emerging global health challenges.