Fight against Antimicrobial Resistance: Nigeria sets to host first high level global meeting
Nigeria is set to host a high level global ministerial meeting on acceleration of action against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Abuja as part of efforts to reduce deaths caused by antimicrobial resistance. The summit, which is the first of its kind to be hosted by an African country, is expected to draw delegations from over 100 countries, including presidents of some countries, such as, Botswana, Ghana and Nigeria.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Dr Ayoade Alakija of the Ministerial Global Envoy on AMR said the conference would be the first of such a high-level engagement on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to be held on African soil. “The larger objective is to advance and to sustain global efforts to curb AMR in Nigeria, Africa and globally,” said Alakija. According to her, the summit, with the theme, “One Health Advancing Global AMR Commitments through Local Action,” would focus on translating global pledges into practical, country-level interventions that will accelerate measures to reduce AMR deaths. On his part, the Director of the Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on AMR, Jean Pierre Nyemazi, warned that the threat extends beyond human health, impacting animals, food systems, economies, and the environment while also emphasizing that AMR is among the top ten global health threats.
The meeting is being supported by leading international organisations, including the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the World Organisation for Animal Health. Nigeria to Host 1st Ever Global Ministerial Meeting on AMR in AfricaExperts say antimicrobial resistance is largely driven by the misuse and overuse of medicines such as antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics across human health, agriculture, and animal sectors, this misuse renders treatments ineffective, making infections harder or in some cases impossible to treat.
Chairperson of GAMA, Shobha Shukla, highlighted the urgent need for responsible use of medicines and stronger public awareness, noting that drug misuse remains widespread across multiple sectors. The Abuja meeting will build on previous global commitments, including outcomes from the 2024 United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AMR and the 4th Ministerial Meeting held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A “Troika mechanism” established in Jeddah is expected to ensure continuity and accountability between global AMR meetings.
According to Dr Nyemazi, a key goal of the upcoming conference is to accelerate the implementation of national action plans through stronger governance, increased investment, and a multisectoral approach under the One Health framework. Meanwhile, the Global AMR Media Alliance announced the launch of the 2026 Global AMR Media Awards, alongside national editions in countries including Nigeria, Nepal, and India. Special categories will recognise reporting that amplifies the voices of AMR survivors and coverage of the upcoming Abuja meeting.
The Founder of Art for Health Initiative, Chidera Rosecamille Aneke has undertaken to provide cash prizes for the inaugural Nigeria AMR Media awards. “She will award N200,000 for first prize,
N150,000 for second prize and
N100,000 for third prize.
Art for Health Initiative is collaborating with Nigeria AMR Alliance ( NAMA) on the award.
AMR is one of the organisations focus and we would love to push and support the NAMA awards in order to push innovative storytelling to communicate AMR in ways the audience can understand. The Initiative works at the intersection of storytelling, media, and the arts to drive public understanding and action on critical health issues like antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Through this support, it aims to elevate impactful, innovative,solutions-driven journalism, with outstanding stories to be recognised at an awards event in November
