Turnaround expert and accomplished technocrat, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has emphasised that sustained innovation and continuous capacity building are key to achieving quality, accessible, affordable, and efficient healthcare systems.
Dr. Peterside made this assertion while serving as Chairman of the 2025 Afrihealth Conferences and Exhibitions, one of the largest private sector-led healthcare gatherings in sub-Saharan Africa, held in Lagos.
The former Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) noted that innovation not only improves the healthcare delivery process but also enables data-driven decision-making. According to him, it helps providers predict disease outbreaks, customise treatments, and ultimately enhance patient outcomes.
Among the notable speakers at the event were Professor Felix Erondu, a renowned radiography expert, and Professor Lere Baale, CEO and faculty member at the Business School Netherlands Nigeria (BSNN), among others.
Dr. Peterside also applauded the entrepreneurial spirit within the healthcare sector, describing practitioners as bold problem-solvers who are addressing pressing challenges and expanding the limits of what is possible.

“I want to give a special appreciation to the AFRIHEALTH Development Foundation for creating this amazing platform that brings together health professionals and allied service providers from all corners to share knowledge and exchange ideas,” he said.
“I also acknowledge the hard work and dedication of healthcare professionals in Nigeria, who too often have their contributions go unnoticed.
“It is a real honor to receive an award from the AFRIHEALTH Development Foundation recognising my efforts in healthcare advocacy over the years. This recognition means a lot to me and motivates me to stay even more engaged in advancing our healthcare system.”
Dr. Peterside further commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, for what he described as exemplary leadership in reforming Nigeria’s health sector.
In his words: “The recent reforms in the healthcare sector, which have been recognised globally, give us hope of a bright future for Nigeria. I have faith that one day Nigeria will be a hub for medical tourism, if we get leadership and technical capacity right.”
He particularly praised Dr. Pate’s efforts to position Nigeria as a centre for the local production of biologics, vaccines, and pharmaceuticals—an initiative he believes will significantly improve access to quality and essential medicines across the country.