In a major boost for disability-inclusive healthcare in Nigeria, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has pledged that the National Assembly will fund monthly subscriptions for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) under the Artificial Intelligence-enabled Koyo HealthTech programme for the next five years.
The Speaker made the commitment at the official unveiling of the Access to Health Initiative for PWDs in Nigeria, delivered through the Koyo Navigate digital health platform, held on Monday in Abuja. He was represented at the event by the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Power, Hon. Joshua Gana.
Speaking on behalf of the Speaker, Gana said the initiative represents a critical step towards dismantling long-standing barriers that have denied many Nigerians with disabilities access to quality healthcare.
“Across the world, artificial intelligence is revolutionising the delivery of healthcare to persons with disabilities. Through the Koyo App, patients in Nigeria can now access doctor-supervised consultations, AI-driven health guidance, dermatological assessments, and a range of accessibility features tailored to different categories of disabilities,” Tajudeen stated.
Reaffirming the commitment of the House of Representatives, he added, “On behalf of the House, I reaffirm our commitment to supporting this initiative through the provision of monthly subscription coverage for persons with disabilities over the next five years.”
Beyond immediate funding, the Speaker disclosed plans to provide legislative backing to ensure the sustainability of the programme.
“We will also commence work on a bill that will mandate the government to permanently assume the cost of these subscriptions for persons with disabilities. This underscores our resolve to promote inclusion, strengthen healthcare delivery, and harness technology for the greater good of all Nigerians,” he said.
The event, themed ‘Inclusive Health Through Innovation: Bridging Disability and Technology,’ was described by the Speaker as more than a ceremonial launch.
“This is not just an event; it is a milestone in our collective journey towards building a truly inclusive society,” Tajudeen noted, stressing that access to healthcare should never be determined by physical or cognitive limitations.
“Health is not a privilege; it is a fundamental human right,” he declared, lamenting that many Nigerians with disabilities have historically faced systemic barriers to accessing medical care, health information, and diagnostic services.
Highlighting the transformative power of artificial intelligence in healthcare, Tajudeen said AI had already proven its capacity to speed up diagnostics, enable early intervention, and deliver personalised care.
“AI-powered solutions have improved communication for people with speech and hearing impairments, enhanced mobility for individuals with severe physical disabilities, and expanded access to education and rehabilitation for people with learning disabilities and traumatic injuries,” he explained.
According to him, the programme aligns with Nigeria’s obligation to uphold the dignity and well-being of over 25 million citizens living with disabilities, adding that the integration of AI into healthcare delivery will help bridge long-standing gaps and extend essential services to vulnerable populations.
He disclosed that 350 persons with disabilities will benefit from the pilot phase of the initiative.
“For these 350 beneficiaries, the services go beyond technological innovation. They are life-changing pathways to dignity, independence, and improved well-being,” the Speaker said, while commending the provision of two months of free AI-enabled healthcare services.
Reiterating the commitment of the 10th House of Representatives to disability inclusion, Tajudeen referenced the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, and the establishment of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), while acknowledging that significant gaps remain.
“Today’s launch reminds us that government alone cannot provide all the solutions. Sustainable impact requires partnerships between the public sector, private innovators, civil society organisations, and development partners,” he said.
He further outlined plans to improve accessibility through healthcare subsidies, partnerships with telecom companies, the rollout of assistive devices, and mandatory disability-inclusion training for healthcare professionals.
Describing the initiative as a model worthy of nationwide replication, Tajudeen declared, “The future of healthcare is digital, inclusive, and accessible. Let us seize this opportunity to build a Nigeria where technology works for everyone, disability is not a barrier to health, and innovation drives national development and social justice.”
Also speaking at the launch, the Chief Executive Officer of Koyo HealthTech, Dr. Thomas Cracknell, said the partnership was anchored on the principles of inclusion and accessibility.
“Koyo Navigate is a smartphone application designed to connect users directly with qualified medical doctors—quickly, safely, and affordably. At its core, Koyo exists to make trusted healthcare guidance accessible to everyone, regardless of income, geography, or circumstance,” he explained.
Cracknell said the platform combines human medical expertise with carefully governed artificial intelligence to ensure accuracy, scalability, and affordability.
“Our AI tools help ensure medical information is up to date and reliable, enable us to scale responsibly despite doctor shortages, and keep costs as low as possible,” he said, adding that affordability and accessibility are non-negotiable principles for Koyo.
“Persons with disabilities have historically lacked equal access to opportunity, stable income, and healthcare support. That reality informs every decision we make,” he noted.
According to him, the next phase of the partnership will prioritise feedback from users.
“The next two months are about listening—learning directly from persons with disabilities what they need from our medical services and how we can serve them better,” Cracknell said.
The Founder of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, also emphasised the centrality of healthcare access to genuine inclusion, announcing temporary free access to the Koyo app for members of the disability community.
“Access to quality healthcare is pivotal if we must win the fight for inclusion. When persons with disabilities are connected to qualified health practitioners, we can begin to achieve health in its true sense,” Epelle said.
He called on the Federal Government to formally partner with Koyo to scale the initiative nationwide and ensure that the most marginalised Nigerians are not left behind.
The event was jointly organised by TAF Africa, Koyo HealthTech, and the Abbas Tajudeen Resource Centre for People with Disabilities.
While Nigeria enacted the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act in December 2018—mandating accessibility across public infrastructure—implementation has remained weak. The State of Disability Inclusion Report 2024, launched by Project Enable Africa in collaboration with the NCPWD and the Ministry of Humanitarian and Poverty Reduction, revealed that 28 percent of health facilities in Nigeria still lack basic accessibility features.
As a result, millions of Nigerians with disabilities continue to face exclusion from essential services such as healthcare, education, and employment, despite existing legal protections—making initiatives like Koyo’s AI-enabled healthcare programme both timely and urgent.
