The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has pledged that the National Assembly will fund monthly subscriptions for Persons With Disabilities under the Artificial Intelligence-enabled Koyo HealthTech programme for the next five years.
Tajudeen made the pledge at the official unveiling of the Access to Health Initiative for PWDs in Nigeria, delivered through the Koyo Navigate platform, held in Abuja on Monday.
He was represented at the event by the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Power, House of Representatives, Joshua Gana.
"Around the world, AI is revolutionising the way healthcare is delivered to persons with disabilities, and through the Koyo App, patients in this country can begin to enjoy doctor-supervised consultations, AI-driven health guidance, dermatological assessments, and other accessibility features tailored to different categories of disabilities.
"On behalf of the House of Representatives, I reaffirm our commitment to supporting this initiative through the provision of monthly subscription coverage for persons with disabilities over the next five years", Tajudeen said.
He further disclosed plans to provide legislative backing for the sustainability of the programme.
"We will also begin work on a bill to mandate the government to permanently assume the cost of such subscriptions for persons with disabilities.
"These efforts underscore our resolve to promote inclusion, strengthen healthcare delivery, and harness technology for the greater good of all Nigerians," he said.
The speaker delivered his address at the event themed, 'Inclusive Health Through Innovation: Bridging Disability and Technology', describing the initiative as a major step in advancing inclusive healthcare in Nigeria.
"This event is therefore more than a ceremony; it is a milestone in our journey towards building an inclusive society," Tajudeen said.
He stressed that access to healthcare should be guaranteed for all citizens, regardless of physical or cognitive limitations.
"Health is not a privilege; it is a fundamental human right," the speaker said, noting that many Nigerians with disabilities had long faced barriers to accessing medical care, health information and diagnostic services.
Tajudeen highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in healthcare delivery, saying, "The vast potential of Artificial Intelligence in speeding up diagnostics, providing early intervention and enabling personalised care has already been proven."
He explained that AI-powered solutions had enhanced communication for people with speech and hearing impairments, improved mobility for individuals with severe physical disabilities and expanded access to education and rehabilitation for people with learning disabilities and traumatic injuries.
According to him, the programme aligns with Nigeria's commitment to uphold the dignity and well-being of over 25 million citizens living with disabilities, adding that the integration of AI into healthcare delivery would help close existing gaps and extend essential services to vulnerable populations.
He disclosed that 350 persons with disabilities would benefit from the pilot phase of the programme.
"For the 350 beneficiaries in this pilot phase, these services are not merely technological upgrades; they are life-changing pathways to dignity, independence, and improved well-being," the speaker said, while appreciating the provision of two months of free AI-enabled healthcare services.
Tajudeen reaffirmed the commitment of the 10th House of Representatives to disability inclusion, referencing the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018 and the establishment of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities. He, however, acknowledged that more needed to be done.
"Today's launch reminds us that government alone cannot provide all the solutions and that partnerships between the public sector, private innovators, civil society, and development partners are essential for sustainable impact," he said.
He also outlined plans to improve accessibility through subsidies, partnerships with telecom companies, the rollout of assistive devices and mandatory training for healthcare professionals on disability inclusion.
Describing the initiative as a model that should be replicated nationwide, Tajudeen said, "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, opportunities are accessible regardless of circumstance, and innovation drives national development and social justice."
Speaking at the launch, the Chief Executive Officer of Koyo, Dr Thomas Cracknell, said the collaboration was rooted in inclusion and accessibility.
Cracknell explained that Koyo Navigate is a smartphone application designed to connect users with qualified medical doctors.
"Koyo Navigate is a smartphone app designed to connect people directly to qualified medical doctors, quickly and safely. At its core, Koyo exists for one simple reason: to make trusted healthcare guidance accessible to everyone, regardless of income, geography or circumstance," he said.
He noted that the platform combines medical professionals with carefully governed artificial intelligence.
"Alongside this, we are integrating carefully governed artificial intelligence, tools that help us to do three main things.
"One, to ensure that the medical knowledge shared is accurate, up to date and high quality. Two, to allow us to scale responsibly in spite of doctor shortages in the country. And three, to keep our costs and therefore the price of what we offer as low as we can possibly make it," he said.
According to him, affordability and accessibility are central to Koyo's operations.
"Persons with disabilities have historically not had the same access to opportunity, stable income or healthcare support as many others. That reality informs every decision we make.
"For Koyo, affordability and accessibility are not features. They are non-negotiable principles," the CEO said.
Cracknell added that the next phase of the partnership would focus on user feedback.
"The next two months kick-starting this exciting partnership are not about us or me explaining to you what Koyo is necessarily. They are about learning what it is our users, our important users, want from us and our medical service," he said.
The Founder of TAF Africa, Jake Epelle, also spoke at the event, stressing the importance of healthcare access in achieving inclusion.
Epelle announced temporary free access to the Koyo app for members of the disability community.
He called on the Federal Government to collaborate with Koyo, saying, "Access to health is very pivotal if we must win the war against inclusion. When persons with disability are given access to quality health, not just health, but quality and qualified health practitioners, then we can be sure that we will obtain health in its true nature.
"So, we want to use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government to partner with Koyo in the administration of their app so that quality health care delivery can be given to the most marginalised," he added.
The event was put together by TAF Africa, Koyo HealthTech, and Abbas Tajudeen Resource Centre for People with Disabilities.
The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2018 was enacted in Nigeria in December of that year, prohibiting discrimination against persons with disabilities and mandating that public buildings, transportation systems, and other facilities be made accessible within a five-year transition period.
However, recent audits and assessments reveal significant gaps in implementation. The 'State of Disability Inclusion Report 2024', launched by Project Enable Africa in partnership with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and the Ministry of Humanitarian and Poverty Reduction, found that 28% of health facilities still lack basic accessibility features for persons with disabilities.
Consequently, substantial numbers of Nigerians with disabilities continue to experience exclusion from vital services such as healthcare, education, and employment, despite the existence of legal protections.