The Nigerian government has appointed global health advocate Dr. Ayoade Alakija as its Ministerial Global Envoy on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), as the country prepares to host the Fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on AMR in June 2026.

The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, in Abuja. The 2026 conference, to be held in Nigeria’s capital, marks the first time the high-level gathering will take place on African soil.

Dr. Pate said Alakija’s appointment is part of a strategic effort to bolster global and national responses to AMR, a growing public health threat worldwide. He noted that Alakija will also continue her role as the World Health Organisation (WHO) Special Envoy for the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator.

“As Ministerial Global Envoy, she will play a critical role in advancing the One Health approach, advocating for equitable access to diagnostics, and ensuring impactful, inclusive outcomes at the 2026 AMR conference,” Pate said.

He described Alakija as a globally respected leader whose work has focused on pandemic preparedness, health equity, and access to diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines. “Her insights and leadership will be an invaluable asset to both Nigeria and the global AMR movement,” he added.

Alakija will also serve on the Ministerial Advisory Committee for the 2026 conference, supporting high-level advocacy, resource mobilisation, and strategic policy formulation.

She currently chairs the board of FIND, a global non-profit promoting diagnostic access, and serves as Co-Chair of the G7 Impact Investment Initiative on Global Health. She is also Chair of the African Union’s Vaccine Delivery Alliance (AVDA).

Responding to her appointment, Alakija described AMR as more than a health issue, calling it a threat to economic and social systems globally. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to Nigeria’s leadership on the issue and said the 2026 conference represents a unique chance to elevate Africa’s voice in shaping global health policy.

“It is an honour to support Nigeria in hosting this historic conference and to advance African leadership in tackling the growing AMR crisis,” she said.