The University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, has urged healthcare professionals to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital health innovations to improve clinical practice, enhance patient safety and strengthen healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Ebunoluwa Adejuyigbe, made the call at the third Faculty of Clinical Sciences Conference held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with the theme, “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Health: Reimagining Clinical Medicine in the Digital Era.”
Adejuyigbe, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration and Clinical Services), described the theme as timely, noting that technological innovations were transforming healthcare delivery, particularly in disease diagnosis, treatment and patient monitoring.
She said Artificial Intelligence, telemedicine, digital health records and predictive analytics offered significant opportunities to improve clinical decision-making, enhance patient safety, expand access to healthcare and strengthen health systems.
However, she cautioned that the adoption of these technologies must be guided by ethical considerations, data privacy, cybersecurity, equity and responsible application.
According to her, technology should complement rather than replace clinical judgement, compassion and the human connection that remain central to quality healthcare.
The Vice-Chancellor reaffirmed UNIMED’s commitment to advancing medical education, research and healthcare services by equipping students and professionals with the knowledge and competencies required for the future of medicine.
In his welcome address, the Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Professor O. A. Adejumo, described the conference as a platform for sharing knowledge, examining emerging technologies and exploring practical ways of improving healthcare delivery.
He said Nigeria could not afford to remain on the sidelines of the global technological transformation in healthcare, urging medical professionals to understand, adopt and adapt relevant innovations to the country’s healthcare needs.
Adejumo explained that the conference was designed to go beyond academic presentations by encouraging evidence-based discussions, building collaborations and generating ideas that participants could implement in hospitals, clinics and classrooms.
Delivering the keynote presentation, the Chief Executive Officer of AEyeCARE Limited, Dr Folajimi Adebowale, highlighted the practical applications of AI in modern clinical practice, saying the technology could help address some of the challenges confronting Nigeria’s healthcare system.
He drew attention to the country’s healthcare workforce challenges, including the shortage of medical professionals and the migration of doctors, noting that AI-powered tools could support clinicians by improving efficiency and assisting clinical decision-making.
Citing international studies and healthcare initiatives in Africa, Adebowale highlighted the use of AI in breast cancer screening, diabetic retinopathy detection, tuberculosis screening, clinical documentation and diagnostic support.
He cited a major Swedish breast cancer screening study involving 105,934 women, which recorded a 29 per cent increase in cancer detection with AI-supported screening and a 44 per cent reduction in radiologists’ screen-reading workload, without an increase in false-positive results.
He also referred to a study involving 39,849 patient visits across 15 primary healthcare clinics in Nairobi, Kenya, where an AI-supported clinical decision tool was associated with reductions in errors relating to history-taking, diagnosis and treatment.
On home-grown innovations, the keynote speaker showcased Ubenwa, a Nigerian-founded technology that analyses newborns’ cries to identify possible birth asphyxia, describing it as an example of how local innovation could address critical healthcare challenges.
He also presented AEyeCARE’s ASPIRE technology, which combines a portable retinal camera with an Android application to support the screening of patients for conditions such as cerebral malaria.
According to him, the technology is designed to provide screening results within approximately one minute, including in locations with limited internet connectivity.
Adebowale urged medical practitioners and students to regard AI as an assistant rather than a replacement for professional expertise, stressing that clinical judgement, empathy and local knowledge would remain indispensable.
He advised healthcare professionals to protect patients’ personal information, verify AI-generated information against trusted clinical guidelines, maintain professional accountability and use institutionally approved tools.
For medical students, he recommended using AI as a study partner for clinical reasoning exercises, simulated patient interactions, revision questions and explanations of complex medical concepts, while warning against allowing the technology to replace independent thinking and learning.
He also encouraged healthcare professionals to begin with small, measurable applications of AI in their workplaces, assess their impact and develop institutional guidelines for responsible adoption.
The conference featured oral and poster presentations by faculty members and students, providing opportunities for academic engagement, knowledge exchange and professional networking.
The Dean lauded the university management, the Conference Organising Committee led by Dr Olufemi Ogundele, faculty members, students, sponsors and other stakeholders for their contributions to the successful organisation of the event.
