By Success David,  Eyitayo Lawal, Joy Aifuobhokhan, & Abdullahi Adegoke

On 10th December 2025, Abuja hosted a landmark event for Nigeria’s healthcare system; the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) Monitoring, Learning, and Evaluation (MLE) Project Dissemination Meeting. The gathering brought together stakeholders from the National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), Federal Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (FEMSAS), National Health Insurance Agency (NHIA), National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and the private sector partner Sydani Group, all united by a common goal: improving healthcare delivery through better data management.

The purpose of the meeting was clear: to share evidence, highlight achievements, and reflect on the transformative interventions implemented by the BHCPF MLE project across multiple states. For researchers, policymakers, and practitioners present, the day offered a unique window into how strategic digital innovations can strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare delivery systems.

Tackling Long-Standing Challenges in Health Data Management

The BHCPF was designed to expand access to primary healthcare across Nigeria, but persistent challenges, including inefficient reporting, fragmented data, and delays in the disbursement of funds, often hinder its effectiveness.

To address these challenges, Sydani Group, in partnership with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, launched the BHCPF MLE project. The project was implemented across eight states in Nigeria between 2022-2024 and aimed to

• Strengthening data systems, and M&E capacity
• Introducing digital tools for transparency and efficiency
• Improve coordination between national, state and local stakeholders

Key Innovations and Achievements

1. Development and Deployment of an ICT System

At the heart of the project was a comprehensive digital platform, which included:

a) A mobile app for over 4,200 health facilities to submit real-time service and financial data

b) A web-based platform for stakeholders at local, state and national levels that enables policymakers and administrators to visualize, analyze, and act on data, streamlining approval processes, and reducing reliance on paper-based systems.

By integrating the platform with DHIS2, the system provides a single, harmonized view of healthcare data, from facility-level reporting to national decision-making. As Mr. Ikechukwu, M&E Project Lead at Sydani Group, noted during the dissemination,

“We didn’t just want to develop any tool that runs in isolation. Our goal was to create a system integrated with DHIS2, improving healthcare access and ensuring timely, evidence-based decision-making.”

The ICT system has already successfully matched over 8,145 facilities on the platform, demonstrating a remarkable scale of data harmonization and digital integration.

2. Financial and Business Planning Tools

In addition to data collection, the project introduced a financial tool to support facilities in business plan development and financial reporting. This tool enables facilities to submit their business plans electronically for approval at state and national levels, ensuring efficient disbursement of funds.

The dashboard collates financial and operational data from across states, allowing stakeholders to track key performance indicators, identify gaps, and make timely interventions. By digitizing the process, the system has reduced administrative delays, eliminated manual errors, and improved overall transparency.

3. Enhancing Emergency Services with NEMSAS

The BHCPF MLE project also focused on emergency services. For NEMSAS, the platform goes beyond data visualization; it provides an entry point for real-time data collection and operational monitoring.

– Ambulance dispatching: The system allows emergency vans to be dispatched efficiently across regions that previously lacked coordinated coverage.

– Ambulatory mapping: Incident cases and emergency responses are recorded, mapped, and monitored on the dashboard, giving administrators a clear view of service coverage.

Currently, 16 states are enrolled on the NEMSAS platform, and since deployment, the tool has helped track and respond to emergencies, reducing reliance on manual reporting. Dr. Kaka Mahdi Gazali, Borno State SEMSAS Coordinator, commended the platform for its effectiveness in improving responsiveness and reducing operational costs.

4. Capacity Building for Sustainable Impact

Recognizing that technology alone cannot drive transformation, the BHCPF MLE project invested heavily in capacity building. Stakeholders were trained and certified in monitoring and evaluation, strengthening digital competencies across Excel, ODK, and reporting platforms.

Training sessions included hands-on learning experiences, particularly with FCT Nigeria Medical Emergency Services (NMES), to enhance data management and operational understanding. This approach aligns with Sydani Group’s core value of capacity transfer, ensuring stakeholders can independently manage the system and sustain improvements beyond the project lifecycle.

The operational review of NEMSAS, conducted as part of these capacity-building efforts, was also published in BMC Emergency Medical Journal, highlighting lessons learned and areas for improvement. These findings have directly informed ongoing refinements to emergency services across participating states. As such, stakeholders trained in M & E and digital tools can manage the platforms independently, which would help ensure continuity and local ownership.

A Model for Evidence-Driven Healthcare

The BHCPF MLE dissemination meeting offered a compelling demonstration of how strategic digital interventions can transform healthcare delivery. From the mobile app and web-based dashboards to financial planning tools and emergency services mapping, the project has created a comprehensive, integrated platform that turns data into actionable insights.

More than just technology, the project represents a partnership-driven approach, combining Sydani Group’s expertise, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building to create a sustainable, evidence-driven healthcare ecosystem. As the BHCPF MLE project continues to expand and mature, its impact on healthcare transparency, accountability, and service delivery will resonate across states, facilities, and communities nationwide.

To strengthen impact, stakeholders are encouraged to integrate the platforms into routine workflows, bring on board states that were not initially included, sustain capacity building through training and peer learning, and actively use data to guide decisions and resource allocation. The next phase calls for collective commitment to scale what works, sustain gains, and fully employ data for better health outcomes nationwide.