The federal government has appointed Ayoade Alakija, a globally respected health advocate and Chair of the Board of FIND, as its Ministerial Global Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja.
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Mr Pate said the appointment is part of plans to strengthen global and national efforts to tackle AMR.
The appointment was made ahead of the Fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR, set to take place in Abuja, Nigeria, in June 2026.
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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that this will be the first time the conference will be hosted in Africa.
Mr Pate noted that Ms Alakija would also serve as the World Health Organisation (WHO) Special Envoy for the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator.
He also disclosed that Ms Alakija would play a critical role in championing One Health approach, advocating for equitable access to diagnostics and ensuring that the 2026 conference deliverers impactful and inclusive outcomes.
“She has demonstrated global leadership in fighting for access to diagnostics, treatments and vaccines for those who need them most,” he said.
The coordinating minister said that her expert insights, grounded in pandemic preparedness, diagnostics, and health equity, would be a huge asset to Nigeria and the global AMR agenda.
“As Ministerial Global Envoy, she will sit on the Ministerial Advisory Committee for the 2026 conference and support high-level advocacy, resource mobilisation, and policy framing efforts,” he said.
“She brings to the role, a wealth of experience, including her positions as Chair of the African Union Vaccine Delivery Alliance (AVDA).
“She is also Co-Chair of the G7 Impact Investment Initiative on Global Health and Board Chair of FIND, a global non-profit advancing diagnostics.”
Mr Pate noted that with leaders like hers helping guide ongoing efforts, Nigeria is well-positioned to make the 2026 conference a turning point in the global fight against AMR.
In her response, Ms Alakija said that AMR is not just a health threat, it drives and deepens global health inequalities, especially in Africa, where it now poses a greater danger than HIV, TB or malaria.
She said that it is an honour to support Nigeria in hosting the historic conference and to elevate African leadership in shaping the global AMR response.
“With collective action rooted in equity and a One Health approach, we can turn the tide on AMR and the injustices it entrenches,” Ms Alakija said.
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NAN reports that AMR causes bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites to stop responding to antimicrobial medicines.
It is a rapidly escalating public health and development threat, projected to cause over 39 million deaths by 2050 if left unchecked.
A key driver of AMR is the misuse of antimicrobials in people, animals and crops, often due to limited access to timely diagnostics.
The 2026 conference in Abuja will build on the outcomes of the Fourth Ministerial Conference held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2024, where global leaders adopted the Jeddah Commitments to accelerate AMR response efforts.
Under a collaborative approach involving Oman, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, the momentum from Jeddah is expected to carry forward into a landmark event in Africa.
(NAN)
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