The utilization of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) for health in Nigeria: a rapid review

Abstract

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) has rapidly advanced in healthcare globally, yet adoption in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including Nigeria, remains limited. Documentation of AI deployment in African health systems is comparatively sparse. This rapid review assessed the extent of domestic evidence on AI use in Nigeria’s healthcare sector. Methods: A literature search was conducted in PubMed/Medline covering January 2020 to September 2025. Eligible studies were health/medical-related research using AI-related tools conducted in Nigeria with at least one author affiliated with a Nigerian institution. Extracted data were analyzed for study aims, design, health focus, location, and overall recommendations on AI use and summarized using tables, maps, and proportions. Results: Twenty-three publications that met the inclusion criteria were reviewed. A 168% increase in AI-related publications was observed in 2025 compared to 2020, with over 70% published between 2024 and 2025. Study aims clustered around knowledge assessment, learning, risk prediction, surveillance, and modelling, often employing artificial or convolutional neural networks. Most first authors were affiliated with Nigerian institutions, reflecting growing domestic interest, alongside collaborations with UK and USA partners. Areas of application included cardiology, disease prediction, prevention, and diagnosis. Over 65% of reviewed studies strongly recommended or encouraged AI use in Nigeria. Conclusions: Evidence indicates increasing reporting and domestic engagement with AI in Nigeria’s health sector, particularly in recent years. While findings support AI’s potential, challenges persist, including ethical concerns, limited healthcare worker awareness, and weak regulatory frameworks. Integration of AI into policy and diagnostic practice remains minimal. Strengthened collaboration among academia, practitioners, and regulators is needed to establish robust ethical and legal frameworks, ensuring safe and effective adoption and utilization of AI in Nigeria’s healthcare system.

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