Dauda Raheem

Dauda RaheemJul 31, 2026

I spent two days in a room I once only imagined I'd be in. At ILF 2026 by eHealth Africa I found myself surrounded by policymakers, health leaders, innovators, investors, regulators, and development partners discussing one question that could define the future of healthcare in Africa: Why do so many digital health innovations fail to scale? The conversations were thought-provoking. Jean Philbert Nsengimana (FAPH, MPA, MBA, PMP, MSc) reminded us that data is not the destination. It only becomes valuable when it improves decisions, coordinates action, and delivers measurable outcomes. His challenge still rings in my ears: "Insights must become commitments. Commitments must become action. Action must produce results." That statement, to me, summarized the entire forum. Dr Obi Peter Adigwe challenged us to think beyond isolated digital projects and instead build connected, citizen-centred, interoperable health systems that respect data sovereignty from day one. His vision of positioning Nigeria among Africa's leading health technology ecosystems is ambitious,but ambition is exactly what this moment demands. One statement particularly stood out: "No African country should make a costly mistake that another African country has already paid for." If we truly believe in African collaboration, then our greatest competitive advantage is shared learning. Ota Akhigbe captured what may be the biggest challenge of all—the "missing middle" between successful pilots and sustainable implementation. Africa doesn't lack innovation; it needs stronger systems that help proven solutions scale. Hearing insights from Adam Thompson, Atef Fawaz, Nazir Halliru,Dr. Mories Atoki (FAPH, FSPIN), Gafar Alawode, and many other leaders reinforced one message: Technology is not Africa's biggest challenge. Scaling it is. I left ILF 2026 convinced that the future of digital health won't be determined by who builds the next groundbreaking solution. It will be determined by who can make those solutions work for the people who need them most. Grateful to everyone who made this forum possible. The conversations shouldn't end here,they should shape what comes next. What, in your opinion, is the single biggest barrier preventing digital health innovations from achieving sustainable scale across Africa? #ILF2026 #DigitalHealth #HealthTech #PublicHealth #HealthSystems #Innovation #Africa #Nigeria #Interoperability #GlobalHealth

Dauda RaheemAug 3, 2026

I still haven't gotten over it. There are experiences that end the moment you walk out of the room. Then there are those that stay with you long after the lights go out and the conversations are over. This was one of them. Over the past few days, I've found myself replaying moments from the Insights Learning Forum 2026 (ILF) 2026—not because it was another conference, but because it challenged the way I think about leadership, innovation, and the future of healthcare in Africa. I've come to realize that the most valuable thing you can gain from being in the right room isn't a business card, a photo, or even a new opportunity. It's a new perspective. Sometimes, one conversation can change the questions you ask. One idea can redefine the direction you're heading. One room can make your dreams feel less distant and your responsibilities much greater. As I looked around, I wasn't thinking about the titles in the room. I was thinking about the years of preparation, service, and consistency that brought each person there. It reminded me that every expert was once a learner, every leader was once unknown, and every meaningful journey begins with simply showing up and remaining teachable. Looking back at this photo, I don't just see someone walking through a conference venue. I see someone whose vision became bigger than it was a few days earlier. And for that, I'm deeply grateful. Alhamdulillah for every room that stretches my thinking, every conversation that expands my vision, and every step in the becoming. I'd love to hear from you: What's one experience, conversation, or room that completely changed the way you see your future? Adam Thompson Atef Fawaz Dr. Mories Atoki (FAPH, FSPIN) Carlos Yerena, FAPH Masduk Abdulkarim Muhammad Isa Jaafar Dayo Akinleye Dr. Ahmed Ogwell OUMA - DFAPH Muntaqa Umar-sadiq Muyi Aina Jean Philbert Nsengimana (FAPH, MPA, MBA, PMP, MSc) #ILF2026 #Leadership #Growth #DigitalHealth #PublicHealth #Africa #HealthTech #Learning #FutureOfHealth #PersonalDevelopment

Dauda RaheemAug 9, 2026

Five minutes. One room. Hundreds of years of collective medical experience and a medical student given the microphone. I stood before a room of senior physicians, consultants, medical leaders and healthcare stakeholders in Plateau State—not simply as a medical student, but as a young voice contributing to a conversation about the future of medical practice. I had the privilege of presenting at the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Plateau State Branch 2026 AGM/Scientific Conference, themed: “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health: Ethical and Legal Implications for Medical Practice.” My presentation, “Navigating the Legal and Ethical Terrain of Artificial Intelligence in Enhancing Patient Safety,” examined a question medicine can no longer afford to postpone: As artificial intelligence becomes part of clinical decision-making, who remains accountable when things go wrong? In five minutes, I explored professional liability, informed consent, clinical accountability, patient safety and regulatory preparedness—issues that will increasingly confront physicians as AI moves from discussions into clinical practice. But beyond the presentation itself, the experience meant much more to me. I am still a medical student at the University of Jos. To have the opportunity to stand in that room and contribute to a scientific conversation alongside people who have spent decades shaping Nigeria’s healthcare system was both humbling and deeply energising. I also had the opportunity to interact with Mr. David Daser and engage in conversations around digital health and telehealth. What stayed with me was not simply the introduction or recognition, but the encouragement, questions and willingness of accomplished people to listen to someone still finding his feet. Those moments matter. They remind you that you don't have to wait until you have a title beside your name before you begin contributing meaningfully. You can start where you are. You can learn. You can ask difficult questions. You can build. And you can earn a seat at the table by consistently preparing yourself for the conversations that matter. I am particularly grateful to Dr. Nenrit and the Local Organizing Committee of the NMA Plateau State Branch for creating this opportunity and trusting me with the platform. To the Chairman and members of the NMA Plateau State Branch, thank you for listening. This was only five minutes. But for me, it represented something much bigger: A reminder that the journey from medical student to physician, from learner to leader, and from ideas to impact begins long before the title arrives. I am grateful for the opportunity. And I am even more excited about what comes next. The future of healthcare will require physicians who understand medicine and can also understand the technologies, systems, laws and people shaping its future. I’m committed to becoming one of them. #TeleMedicine #NMA #Future #DigitalHealth #Nigeria #FutureOfHealthcare