Dr. Ayoade Alakija has been appointed Ministerial Global Envoy on AMR, as Nigeria intensifies preparations to host the 5th Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance in Abuja come June 2026.
The announcement was made by Nigeria’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare, who took to his official social media platform to unveil the appointment. He described Dr. Alakija as a globally respected voice in public health, known for her deep technical expertise, strategic global reach, and unwavering commitment to health equity.
Dr. Alakija currently serves as Board Chair of FINDER, a WHO-designated diagnostics partner, and has played a pivotal role as Special Envoy to the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) under the leadership of Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the World Health Organization (WHO). Her appointment, according to the health minister, comes at a time when the world faces an urgent threat, AMR is projected to claim more than 10 million lives annually by 2050, with Africa bearing the brunt due to limited access to diagnostics and essential medicines.
In her new role, Dr. Alakija is expected to work closely with the Ministerial Advisory Committee on AMR, promoting high-level advocacy, technical engagement, and coordination with global and domestic partners. She will help ensure that One Health integration, diagnostic equity, and multisectoral collaboration remain at the heart of the AMR response.
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Her mandate builds upon a solid track record of impactful leadership, including her previous work with the African Union’s Vaccine Delivery Alliance (AVDA) and the G7 Impact Investment Initiative on Global Health. With a wealth of experience in pandemic preparedness, emergency response, and global health diplomacy, Dr. Alakija is well-positioned to elevate Nigeria’s leadership on the global stage.
The appointment aligns with the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and the broader Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which emphasizes integrated, institutionally coordinated responses to complex public health challenges. Her leadership will be instrumental in shaping the agenda and outcomes of the Nigeria 2026 AMR Conference.
Nigeria’s commitment to delivering a technically robust, inclusive, and impactful AMR conference is underscored by continued collaboration with global partners, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman, and the Quadripartite Alliance, comprising the WHO, WOAH, FAO, and UNEP.
The Ministry thanked Dr. Alakija for accepting the role and expressed confidence in her ability to drive progress, strengthen partnerships, and reinforce Nigeria’s status as a leader in the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
