FIND Board Chair Dr Ayoade Alakija Appointed Ministerial Global Envoy for Antimicrobial Resistance

In the lead up to the 5th Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), the Nigerian government has appointed FIND Board Chair Dr Alakija as Ministerial Global Envoy on AMR.

AMR is one of the world’s greatest health and socioeconomic threats, needing a coordinated, multisectoral global response. In her role as Ministerial Global Envoy and as part of the MAC, Dr Alakija will support high-level advocacy and resource mobilisation with governments, industry and philanthropy, highlighting the centrality of diagnostics to the response, and reinforcing the need for a “One Health” approach to AMR.

The 5^th High-Level Ministerial Meeting on AMR (HLMM) in Abuja will take place in June 2026 and has adopted a “One Health” theme. It will build on the momentum generated at last year’s crucial convening in Jeddah, which was hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Nigerian Presidency of the 5th HLMM commenced in November 2024 in Jeddah at the handover ceremony and is led by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and President of next year’s conference, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.

At the 4th HLMM, FIND hosted a high-level event, “Dive into Diagnostics” which Dr Alakija convened and chaired. This event laid out concrete actions to support the implementation of the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance with a focus on diagnostics. The 2024 Jeddah conference brought together global health leaders who ratified their commitment to tackling AMR through the adoption of the Jeddah Commitments. This collective declaration outlined priority actions, including the centrality of the One Health approach to reverse the growing threat of AMR, which is projected to cause over 39 million deaths by 2050 unless urgent measures are taken now.

“Dr Alakija’s role as Chair of FIND and experience within the African Union and globally as World Health Organization (WHO) Special Envoy for ACT-Accelerator make her invaluable in supporting Nigeria’s AMR efforts at the High-Level Ministerial and beyond,” said Professor Muhammed Ali Pate. “While global challenges like protracted conflicts and the climate crisis are intensifying, the threat of AMR is often overlooked and yet poses an equally impending threat, from which no-one is safe. The Africa region bears the greatest number of deaths linked to AMR. The Ministerial Conference on AMR is a timely opportunity to unite on global efforts, maintain political commitment and continue to push collective action.”

The One Health approach to AMR acknowledges the inextricable link between the health of people, animals, plants and the environment. When Nigeria welcomes member states in 2026, it will double down on this integrated approach, ensuring that efforts to combat AMR are multisectoral and systemic. By guaranteeing continuity in global AMR governance, facilitated by the Oman, KSA and Nigeria troika, the conference will galvanise action to take forward the Jeddah Commitments and the implementation of the 2024 UN Political Declaration on AMR, offering an opportunity to reaffirm global efforts to tackle AMR.

“I am honoured to take on the role of Ministerial Global Envoy for AMR and to support efforts to address one of the world’s biggest existential challenges. By championing AMR on the global stage, Nigeria’s leadership is helping to drive international momentum in the fight against this escalating threat,” said FIND Board Chair Dr Alakija. “While AMR poses a risk to everyone, low- and middle-income countries carry a disproportionate share of the burden, facing higher rates of illness, death and economic hardship. This is not only a global health crisis, but an issue of equity that demands urgent and collective action.”

The upcoming conference is a crucial opportunity to accelerate action, and advance multisectoral One Health solutions to address the threat of AMR.