By Staff Reporter
LAGOS, June 2, 2026 — Nigeria's drive to modernise its healthcare system received a major boost on Tuesday as the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, officially declared open the World Health Expo (WHX) Lagos 2026, describing the event as a critical platform for healthcare innovation, investment, and policy transformation across West Africa.
Speaking at the opening ceremony held at the Landmark Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, Dr. Salako said the expo has evolved over the past 15 years from the former Medic West Africa exhibition into the region's most influential healthcare trade and innovation platform, serving as a catalyst for healthcare transformation and economic growth.
Representing the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the minister welcomed participants, exhibitors, healthcare professionals and delegates from across the world, emphasizing Nigeria's commitment to building a resilient, technology-driven and equitable healthcare system.
According to him, WHX Lagos has consistently brought together more than 8,000 healthcare professionals, over 500 exhibitors from more than 40 countries and dozens of expert speakers annually, facilitating partnerships, knowledge exchange and access to cutting-edge medical technologies.
"This evolution is not merely a change of name; it reflects the expanding ambition of a platform that has genuinely positioned itself as a catalyst for healthcare transformation across our sub-region," Salako said.
The minister highlighted the critical role the expo has played in addressing one of Nigeria's most pressing healthcare challenges—the persistent gap in diagnostic capacity. He noted that between 85 and 99 per cent of medical equipment and in-vitro diagnostics used across West Africa are imported, exposing healthcare systems to supply chain vulnerabilities, high costs and limited access.
He commended the organisers, Informa Markets and the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN), for connecting Nigerian healthcare institutions with global manufacturers, distributors and innovators capable of delivering affordable and appropriate healthcare technologies at scale.
"Through this expo, innovative point-of-care diagnostic tools, portable imaging equipment, automated laboratory systems and digital health platforms are progressively finding their way into our public health facilities," he stated.
Beyond technology showcases, Dr. Salako praised the conference sessions organised alongside the exhibition, noting that discussions on regulatory harmonisation, local content development and sustainable procurement models have influenced national health policies and reform initiatives pursued by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
He reaffirmed the government's commitment to strengthening partnerships with the private sector, citing the Healthcare Market Access and Policy Leadership Forum convened in collaboration with the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria as a valuable platform for dialogue on regulatory reforms, investment facilitation and healthcare trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The minister also outlined major healthcare infrastructure investments currently underway under the Tinubu administration.
He disclosed that in 2024, President Tinubu approved a comprehensive health infrastructure upgrade programme in partnership with the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), aimed at expanding oncology, nuclear medicine, cardiac care and diagnostic services across the country.
The initiative includes the establishment of 22 modern medical diagnostic centres, six oncology facilities and seven cardiac catheterisation laboratories strategically located across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones.
In addition, Dr. Salako referenced the Federal Government's $1.2 billion Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) initiative launched in August 2024, describing it as a comprehensive reform programme focused on healthcare financing, workforce development and infrastructure expansion.
He further revealed that the Federal Government earmarked ₦402 billion for health sector infrastructure development in the 2025 fiscal year, underscoring what he described as an unprecedented commitment to improving healthcare access nationwide.
"Our vision is for platforms like WHX Lagos to serve as a critical conduit for translating this investment ambition into tangible technology access for our hospitals and patients," he said.
The minister noted that WHX Lagos 2026 comes at a pivotal moment for the healthcare industry, with Nigeria's healthcare sector projected to grow by 7.1 per cent and attain an estimated market value of $161.7 million by 2027.
He observed that the broader West African healthcare market, valued at over $11 billion, faces increasing pressure to strengthen local supply chains, attract quality investments and achieve universal health coverage.
Salako used the occasion to reiterate the Federal Government's support for healthcare investments, public-private partnerships and local manufacturing initiatives aimed at reducing dependence on imported medical products and technologies.
He highlighted flagship reform programmes including the Presidential Initiative to Unlock Healthcare Value Chains (PVAC) and the Presidential Executive Order for the Pharmaceutical and Allied Sectors, both designed to stimulate local production, enhance health security and create jobs.
"Platforms such as WHX Lagos play a vital role in accelerating that vision by bringing world-class health technologies to our doorstep, forging the partnerships that translate innovation into access, and sustaining the policy conversations that must accompany every technological investment," he said.
The minister urged hospital administrators, procurement specialists, investors, innovators, healthcare professionals and development partners attending the three-day event to leverage the opportunities presented by the expo to foster collaborations that will improve patient care and strengthen health systems across the region.
He congratulated Informa Markets, the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria and the organising committee for building what he described as one of Africa's most impactful healthcare gatherings, while also thanking international exhibitors and delegates for choosing Nigeria as the host country.
Dr. Salako subsequently declared the World Health Expo Lagos 2026 officially open, expressing optimism that the event would deliver meaningful outcomes capable of addressing the health challenges and opportunities confronting Nigeria, West Africa and the global healthcare community.
The three-day expo is expected to feature exhibitions, accredited conferences, product demonstrations, policy dialogues and high-level networking sessions involving healthcare stakeholders from around the world.
