Digital Innovation Archives

– Chinwendu Tabitha Iroegbu

Nigeria’s digital abilities are trailing below the global average because of a large skills gap. In Nigeria, digital skills will be necessary for about half of all jobs by 2030, and only 11% of graduates have formal tech training. Nigeria and Africa in general have a long way to go before they can truly compete in the digital world.

This digital skills gap has significant consequences for Nigeria’s economic growth and global competitiveness. Without a workforce equipped with essential tech skills, businesses struggle to adopt emerging technologies, leading to reduced productivity and innovation. Additionally, the lack of digital expertise limits job opportunities for young Nigerians, increasing unemployment and widening economic inequality. As industries worldwide shift toward automation and artificial intelligence, Nigeria risks being left behind, unable to fully leverage the benefits of the digital economy.

How eHA Academy is Closing the Gap

To bridge these critical gaps, eHealth Africa (eHA) founded eHA Academy in 2016 to give young people across Africa the technical skills that meet industry standards. The academy is also assisting people in pursuing professions in data analytics, UI/UX design, and software development. The Academy provides rigorous, 16-week training courses. These courses offer practical, industry-focused, and high-quality, easily available training that prepares graduates for the current tech workforce.

Beyond merely imparting technical knowledge, eHA Academy provides the opportunity for project-based learning, mentorship, and experiential learning. This guarantees that students acquire practical experience and develop a solid portfolio that improves their employability.

Proven Success: The Impact of eHA Academy

Since its inception, eHA Academy has trained over 140 students, many of whom have successfully transitioned into careers in tech. The impact of the program is evident in the success stories of graduates who have made remarkable career shifts.

Dr Lawan Hassan Adamu, a Ph.D Associate Professor of Human Anatomy at the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, did not delay in applying to join the Academy as it aligns with his interest in deploying innovative solutions in his field of endeavor.

According to Dr Lawan, “I saw this as an opportunity to enhance my technical capabilities and contribute to innovative solutions for challenges in public health and biomedical sciences.” Having received practical knowledge on UI/UX design, web development, Agile project management tools amongst others, Dr Lawan says, “My focus will remain on creating scalable, impactful solutions that bridge the gap between healthcare delivery and technology”. This, according to him, includes the creation of e-learning platforms, public health tools, and further deploying data management tools to improve community health.

On her part, Fatima Muhammad Bashir started her journey in agricultural science but discovered a passion for web development through eHA Academy. Today, she is building digital solutions that impact lives. Fatima plans to use these skills to build websites for small businesses in her community, focusing on user-friendly designs and impactful solutions. “Additionally, I aim to take on freelance projects to refine my expertise while working towards a long-term career in tech”, she said.

For Orazuilike Chinazaekpele Francisca, who previously worked in the hospitality sector, she will leverage her training at eHA Academy to secure a role in the tech industry. This will not only refine my web development skills but also allow me to contribute to a cause I’m passionate about.” Chinaza hopes to build her career with practical application and continuous learning.

According to her, “I will use these skills to help build a responsive and informative website for Non Governmental Organizations advocating for early education and children’s welfare.

For others, like Emmanuel Oga, eHA Academy provided the structured learning environment he needed to transition from struggling with self-learning to becoming a software developer. Many graduates have gone on to work with established companies, startups, and some have launched their tech initiative. The Academy’s influence extends beyond individual success, it is actively shaping Nigeria’s digital economy by supplying a skilled workforce ready to drive innovation. In addition to collaborating with professionals in the sector and working on real-world projects, students also receive experienced mentoring.

The Future of Tech Education in Africa

Programs like eHA Academy are essential to preparing Africa for the future, as the continent’s demand for digital skills is only going to grow. Africa’s technological future is bright, as the Academy is demonstrating by providing students with employable skills, encouraging innovation, and establishing career routes.

Muflihat Abdulmajid, a proud alumni of eHA Academy, reflects on her journey: “The joy and fulfillment I now have, being part of a team building software solutions for public health interventions in Africa is compared to none.”

Her story is a testament to how eHA Academy empowers individuals with the skills to drive impactful change in health technology.

For those eager to embark on a transformative learning journey, eHA Academy remains a gateway to endless opportunities. With the right education and resources, Africa’s next generation of tech leaders is being built one graduate at a time.

“We are excited to see the impact our graduates will have on the world. They are now equipped to address complex challenges in health tech and contribute to shaping a future where technology and healthcare work hand-in-hand to improve lives across the continent,” said Jamil Galadanci, Senior Manager, Software Engineering, eHealth Africa.

eHA Academy is transforming lives and influencing the future of Africa’s digital economy with its dedication to innovation and education. As more students have access to high-quality tech education, other industries will be impacted, which will help Nigeria and other countries grow economically and advance technologically.

By Moshood Isah

eHealth Africa team, partners and Stakeholders from the Kaduna State Primary Healthcare

Between August and September 2024, eHealth Africa’s Disease Prevention and Monitoring team conducted a comprehensive pilot workshop for its innovative digital solution, Planfeld. The tool is designed to enhance the planning of vaccination campaigns and ensure that every child has access to the polio vaccine and other routine immunization services. During the workshop, held in Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi States, eHealth Africa exposed over 350 primary healthcare workers, partners, and stakeholders to the efficacy of Planfeld in planning vaccination campaigns with greater speed and accuracy.

The impactful workshop, funded by the Gates Foundation, provided stakeholders with the opportunity to give insightful feedback during the tool’s demonstration. Here are some key lessons learned:

1. Time Management: Reducing Vaccination Plan Development from 5 Days to 10 Minutes

In all six states where Planfeld was piloted, Ward Focal Persons managing vaccination campaigns reported that developing a micro plan typically took between three to five days. This process involved manually collecting data from communities and engaging with local gatekeepers to identify target households and populations (children aged 0-59 months). However, with Planfeld, an updated Master List of Settlements, and input from primary healthcare providers, a near-accurate micro plan could be generated in just five minutes. Umar Muhammed, a Ward Focal Person in Niger State, noted, “If Planfeld works perfectly, it will solve all our challenges, as it can generate micro plans within a few minutes.”

Similarly, Victor Obagunlu from Solina, who attended the workshop in Kaduna State, said, “Planfeld is beneficial because it significantly reduces the time and energy spent on developing micro plans.”

2. Effective Resource Management and Allocation for Vaccination Campaigns

The workshop highlighted that with an accurate Master List of Settlements (MLoS) uploaded into Planfeld, the right number of vaccination teams can be effectively assigned to households. According to Friday Daniel, eHealth Africa’s Associate Manager supporting this intervention, “Accurately assigning vaccination teams to the right number of settlements will reduce undue burden and ensure every household is reached within the vaccination period.” Like many digital innovations, Planfeld relies on data for better decision-making, ensuring both financial and human resources are effectively utilized.

3. State Primary Healthcare Leaders Are Open to New Innovations

Dr. Larai Aliyu Tambuwal, Executive Secretary of the Sokoto State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), summarized the views of other agency leaders by stating, “The integration of digital innovation in primary healthcare services will significantly improve precision in delivering vaccines to every settlement, ensuring comprehensive coverage.”

Key stakeholders at the state level were generally receptive to digitizing the microplanning process to enhance its quality. Mustapha Aliyu Alinkilo, Director of Disease Prevention and Control in Zamfara State, commented, “Technology will enhance the quality of microplanning in the state, and deploying the monitoring aspect of Planfeld will ensure a near-perfect vaccination campaign.”

4. User-Centric Approach Is Key to Success of Digital Innovations

To ensure an effective transition from manual to digital microplanning, eHealth Africa’s Program Manager Abubakar Shehu emphasized the importance of involving all relevant parties during the planning phase. “We brought in key players in the generation of micro plans at the state level, led by the Incident Manager and the State Immunization Officer for both Polio and routine immunization,” Abubakar said. Key partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), and SOLINA, participated in the pilot workshop.

A crucial lesson learned from the Planfeld demonstrations is that understanding and prioritizing the needs, preferences, and behaviors of users is essential when developing digital innovations. Feedback from over 350 prospective end-users has highlighted areas for optimization to ensure that the Planfeld application resonates with its target audience.

5. Opportunity for Optimization of Planfeld

As with any digital solution, Planfeld has room for optimization. After the workshop in Niger State, the State Immunization Officer (SIO) Usman Abubakar Kpantu suggested that Planfeld be optimized to include the allocation of accurate resources and commodities, especially vaccines, to various settlements. Abubakar recommended, “Micro plan structures should accommodate advocacy, communication, and social mobilization tools to promote ownership of vaccination campaigns across communities.”

Other stakeholders advised that Planfeld should identify the exact number of households and children a vaccination team should expect to cover during daily activities. This, they believe, will further enhance planning accuracy and ensure that no child is left unvaccinated.

Overall, as agreed by all stakeholders during the Planfeld pilot workshop across the six states, an accurate Master List of Settlements is crucial for developing effective micro plans. An accurate micro plan remains vital for reaching every household and target population with the appropriate vaccines. Therefore, primary healthcare providers and community gatekeepers play essential roles in collecting and disseminating accurate information. This will help ensure that technical partners like eHealth Africa use the right information to support vaccination campaigns, as efforts continue to eliminate the Circulating Variant Poliovirus and other vaccine-preventable diseases.

Tag: Digital Innovation

From Passion to Proficiency: How eHA Academy is Shaping Future Tech Leaders

How eHA Academy is Closing the Gap

The Future of Tech Education in Africa

5 Lessons from the Planfeld Pilot Workshop Across Six States in Nigeria

How eHA Academy is Closing the Gap

The Future of Tech Education in Africa

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