Nigeria has taken a step towards a digital future for public health through a partnership between the UK Health Security Agency’s International Health Regulations Strengthening Project (IHR-SP), Nigeria’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and Georgetown University. In a joint workshop, 29 public health professionals have been equipped with the skills to lead Nigeria’s digital  transformation. 

The three-day Digital Workforce Transformation Workshop created a new generation of ‘digital champions’ – specially selected staff from across NCDC’s departments who will drive the adoption of Assurance Public Health International and Domestic Security (APHIDS), Nigeria’s innovative digital platform for workforce management.  Developed by NCDC with Georgetown University support, this platform digitalises human resources and administrative processes, enabling better workforce planning, performance monitoring, and institutional accountability – critical capabilities for managing health emergencies and strengthening public health responses.

29 participants from key NCDC departments including Human Resources, ICT, Laboratory Servies, the Department of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS),  Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (HEPR), Audit, and Procurement took part in the workshop. Over three days, the workshop featured orientation and strategic alignment on APHIDS, hands-on system training with live demonstrations and simulations, and mentorship and future planning focused on sustainability, monitoring, and integration of APHIDS Phase 2. UKHSA IHR-SP provided the platform, logistics, roles alignment and strategic direction for NCDC in planning the event.

The workshop's success was evident in the positive response from participants. All participants rated the facilitation as excellent, and that sessions were well-structured, engaging, and relevant to their work. More importantly, they reported enhanced technical capacity and increased confidence to champion digital adoption across their departments.

One participant captured the transformative nature of the experience: "This is a life-changing experience; I hope more of this kind of training can be organised often." Another emphasised the quality of delivery: "The training was perfectly delivered and well-planned."

This initiative directly supports Nigeria's Federal Civil Service Strategic Implementation Plan (FCSSIP 2021–2025), which aims to create a paperless civil service. By strengthening NCDC's digital capabilities, the workshop positions the organisation to meet national digital standards while ensuring greater efficiency, transparency, and sustainability in public health workforce management.

The UKHSA IHR-SP played a pivotal role in this initiative by providing the platform, technical guidance, logistical support, and strategic direction that ensured the workshop’s success. In line with its global mandate to strengthen compliance with the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005), the project also built technical and workforce capacity for the operationalisation and sustained use of APHIDS across NCDC departments.

Through this partnership, UKHSA IHR-SP helped position NCDC’s digital transformation efforts within the broader framework of IHR implementation — fostering improved data management, accountability, and coordination essential for effective public health response.

The partnership has created a sustainable model where Nigerian professionals are empowered to lead their own digital transformation, driven by Nigerian expertise. With enhanced system functionalities and trained digital champions now embedded across seven NCDC departments, the Digital Workforce Transformation Workshop has positioned APHIDS as a cornerstone of NCDC’s digital ecosystem. The new digital champions will also mentor other workforce within their departments, further driving NCDC’s compliance with national digital standards whilst ensuring efficiency, transparency, and sustainability in Nigeria’s public health workforce management.