The assistant director-general of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu has called for increased local investments in domestic institutions to enhance health security.
He made this appeal in Abuja on Thursday while delivering a keynote address at the second Annual Health Symposium of APIN Public Health Initiatives.
The symposium, themed “Securing Our Future: Strengthening Global Health Security in Nigeria,” focused on the need to bolster Nigeria’s health systems.
Ihekweazu, who oversees the division of health emergency intelligence and surveillance systems at WHO, emphasised that investing in domestic institutions fosters a better understanding of health crises and drives sustainable progress.
“Investing in domestic institutions enhances our capacity to understand infectious diseases and address them effectively. While foreign partners have a role to play, the ultimate responsibility lies with us—how we build and empower our institutions. Countries must commit their resources to these challenges rather than outsourcing our problems entirely,” he said.
He underscored the centrality of strong institutions, describing them as the foundation for sustainable progress. “Institutions are the bedrock of sustainable development, holding systems together and acting as the bridge to a stronger nation. Strengthening our institutions is not just about addressing today’s crises but preparing for tomorrow’s unknown challenges,” he added.
Ihekweazu, a former director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, noted that robust institutions were essential for translating development aid into meaningful action and delivering lasting improvements. He warned that weak institutions perpetuate dependency cycles.
He stated, “Global health security is directly tied to local health security, which in turn depends on the strength of local institutions. A network of strong health security institutions working with similar protocols is essential for mutual support and resilience.”
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate highlighted the government’s commitment to a “One Health” approach. He explained that this integrated strategy aims to optimise resources and provide effective responses to health challenges.
Represented by the director of Port Health Services, Nse Akpan, Pate said, “This approach is critical for containing and eliminating diseases of national importance. We have long-term plans to ensure sustainable eradication of these diseases. However, this requires collective effort—government alone cannot achieve it. More stakeholders need to collaborate to tackle these health issues.”
He also expressed optimism about Nigeria’s proactive stance on health challenges, especially as international support may not always be guaranteed.
Chief executive officer of APIN, Prosper Okonkwo noted that the symposium served as a platform for stakeholders to discuss global health security.
“Due to climate change, new diseases are emerging while previously declining diseases are re-emerging, raising concerns. The symposium provides an opportunity to explore how we can better prepare our health systems for inevitable challenges,” he explained.
He added, “The example of COVID-19 showed that while it strained countries with robust systems, it completely overwhelmed weaker ones. Our goal is to ensure our health system reaches a level of readiness that allows us to respond effectively when crises occur.”
APIN’s symposiums aim to influence health policies, improve service delivery and lay the groundwork for sustained progress in Nigeria’s public health landscape.
