By JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Afyarekod Limited, in partnership with The PDI Institute, has successfully concluded a transformative two-day training programme on Data and Practical AI in Healthcare Insurance, held in Abuja from November 13 to 14, 2024.
The event, which brought together over 85 senior IT heads, revenue teams, programme managers, and key stakeholders from the various state health insurance sectors, focused on equipping participants with cutting-edge AI tools, data analytics capabilities, and practical insights into leveraging technology to enhance healthcare insurance operations in Nigeria.
The training programme, which was part of the State Health Insurance Agency Forum initiative, aimed to empower healthcare agencies to harness the power of data-driven decision-making and AI technology to tackle the industry’s most pressing challenges, including fraud management, cost optimization, and enhanced service delivery.
Key Highlights include, Fraud Management with AI in which participants learnt to apply AI tools for fraud detection and risk management, gaining critical skills to identify fraudulent patterns and mitigate financial risks within the health insurance sector.
They were also taught Data Analytics and Structure, programme, providing deep insights into the value of data analytics and the importance of effective data structuring, allowing participants to understand how to derive actionable insights from their data and use it to make more informed decisions.
It also featured, AI Customer Chat Solutions, in collaboration with AICE Africa, where attendees were trained on AI-powered customer chat solutions, which streamline customer service interactions, promote enrollment, and provide vital educational support on preventive healthcare.
Similarly, No-Code AI for Real-Time Analytics was a standout feature of the training, with the introduction to real-time, no-code AI tools, enabling participants to query, analyze, and visualize their own data without requiring advanced technical skills.
The hands-on sessions allowed participants to perform tasks like data queries at record speed, identify problems in their datasets, and solve issues efficiently, significantly enhancing their data literacy.
Several participants shared their experiences during the event, expressing how the training empowered them to immediately apply AI techniques to their work.
One participant noted, “I was able to query and analyze our data in real-time, which would normally take us weeks and a lot of experts. This not only sped up our processes but helped us identify key issues we didn’t even know existed.”
The State Health Insurance Agency Forum, which provided the platform for this groundbreaking training, underscores the leadership of Nigeria’s state health insurance agencies in promoting a data-driven approach to healthcare insurance.
The programme is expected to have a lasting impact on the agencies’ operational strategies and is poised to set a benchmark for other agencies across Nigeria and the African continent.
Afyarekod Limited and The PDI Institute are committed to continuing this momentum, furthering the adoption of AI-driven solutions to transform Nigeria’s healthcare insurance landscape.
This initiative aligns with the broader goal of empowering organizations to become data-centric, fostering innovation and improving healthcare access for millions of Nigerians.
John Kamara, CEO, Afyarekod Limited in his remarks, said, “The power of data and AI is undeniable, and we’re proud to have facilitated this training that has empowered Nigeria’s healthcare insurance leaders to adopt transformative technologies.
“This is just the beginning of a data-driven future for Nigeria’s health insurance sector, and we are excited to see the long-term impact on both healthcare delivery and insurance service optimization.”
For Flora Oyakhilome, Nigeria Head, The PDI Institute, the training was a new vista for participants.
“This training program not only introduced AI tools to the participants but also helped them understand the broader implications of using data for smarter decision-making. We are seeing a wave of transformation across Nigeria’s health insurance landscape, and this program will continue to influence both local and regional efforts to improve healthcare services.” The PDI Institute Head said.
In other remarks, Mr Elemosho from Lagos State, Mr Gidado from Gombe State, Mrs Bomote from Bayelsa State, all echoed the same sentiment that, “This training has been a game-changer for our team. We’ve learned not just how to use AI tools but how to integrate them into our daily operations. The no-code tools are a breakthrough – they’ll make us more agile and better at predicting and solving problems before they become critical.”
The training programme has laid the groundwork for future initiatives aimed at expanding healthcare insurance coverage and improving service delivery through advanced technologies. It is expected that the participants will return to their respective agencies with enhanced skills to implement AI-powered systems, driving operational efficiency, fraud prevention, and customer satisfaction across the country.
By equipping healthcare insurance agencies with these tools, Nigeria is positioning itself as a leader in AI-driven health insurance solutions, offering a model that other African nations can replicate. This program’s impact is expected to ripple through the healthcare insurance landscape, creating a more inclusive and effective insurance system that better serves underserved communities and informal sector workers.
Afyarekod Limited is a leading provider of AI-powered solutions for healthcare and insurance industries, specializing in data analytics, fraud detection, and customer service innovations.
About The PDI Institute:
The PDI Institute is a premier institution focused on capacity-building and leadership development in data science, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation across Africa.