The Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria (IMAN) has concluded its 26th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference, held from December 1–5, 2025, Arewa House, Kaduna. The hybrid event drew 1,018 delegates from across Nigeria and abroad, addressing the theme “Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare.”
With subthemes covering reproductive health, harmful cultural practices, medical ethics, palliative care, non-communicable diseases, and preparing Muslim health professionals for AI-driven care, the conference featured 57 scientific abstracts, six lead papers, and multiple expert panels. Keynote presentations were delivered by Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami and Dr. Muhammad Shakir Balogun.
Participants highlighted major concerns, including:
- The widening gap between rapid advances in AI and reproductive technologies and the slower pace of legal, ethical, and Islamic jurisprudential guidance.
- The persistence of harmful cultural practices—such as female genital mutilation, vaccine refusal, and rejection of blood transfusion—often wrongly justified by religion.
- Ethical risks of AI in clinical practice, including data privacy, algorithmic bias, and reduced human compassion in patient care.
- Cultural and religious barriers to vaccination, modern contraception, and timely medical care.
- Rising non-communicable diseases and road traffic accidents, viewed as contrary to Islamic teachings on preserving life.
At the end of deliberations, IMAN adopted several key resolutions, including calls for:
- Culturally sensitive legal and policy frameworks aligning AI and reproductive technologies with maqasid al-shari’ah (objectives of Islamic law).
- Stronger collaboration with scholars and community leaders to combat harmful practices and promote acceptance of evidence-based medicine.
- Robust national ethical governance of AI, ensuring transparency, human oversight, and inclusion of Islamic jurists and ethicists.
- Training for Muslim health professionals in ethical AI use, culturally competent care, and appropriate integration of prophetic medicine.
- Development of Islamic-guided AI systems for accident prevention and emergency response.
- Expanded research and advocacy on geriatric care, palliative medicine, NCD prevention, and digital health literacy.
- Safe and equitable expansion of telemedicine across Nigeria.
IMAN expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Kaduna State Governor Sen. Uba Sani, Jigawa State Governor Mal. Umar A. Namadi, the Emir of Zazzau, and several health sector leaders for their support and hospitality during the conference.
