Key stakeholders in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Nigeria have emphasised the need for a dual approach, curbing informal antibiotic sales in communities and empowering young people through inclusive, multisectoral education.
This two-pronged strategy, they say, is essential to halt the worsening AMR threat across the country and West Africa.
The call was made on Thursday in Abuja at the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Western Africa Regional Coordinating Centre’s Regional Review Meeting on Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) and AMR Surveillance Systems.
Science Nigeria reports that the regional gathering convened experts, technical partners, youth groups and country representatives to assess the status of AMR response across West Africa and strengthen regional collaboration.
During the meeting, Estelle Mbadiwe, a pharmacist with Ducit Blue Solutions warned about the unregulated and widespread dispensing of antibiotics by unlicensed vendors, particularly in rural and peri-urban communities. She highlighted the persistent gap between regulatory frameworks and on-the-ground realities.
“These vendors aren’t authorised to prescribe antibiotics, yet they do,” Mbadiwe said. “The disconnect between regulation and reality is one of the biggest drivers of resistance.”
She added that awareness remains particularly low among the elderly, many of whom identify drugs by colour, shape, or packaging rather than their actual names or purpose.
“We must work from both ends; tightening control over informal dispensing channels while equipping future generations with the tools to prevent resistance,” she stressed.
Adding a complementary perspective, AMR and IPC programme officer at the Dr. Ameyo Adadevoh Health Trust (DRASA), Oluwatoni Akinola said DRASA’s work goes beyond the human health sector to embrace a One Health approach that integrates agriculture and the environment.
“We’re currently co-developing a communication curriculum on AMR and doing so in partnership with key ministries – not just Health, but also agriculture and environment,” Akinola said.
She noted that both urban and rural schools – public and private – are being considered in the pilot phase of this curriculum to ensure equity in learning and reach.
Akinola also introduced DRASA’s youth-led One Health Pilot Project, a new initiative designed to build the capacity of youth-led organisations and individuals to lead One Health interventions in their communities.
“We aim to ensure that young Nigerians become active contributors to structured One Health programmes across the country,” she explained.
According to Akinola, DRASA has so far trained over 69,000 youth across 32 states as health champions, many of whom are now leading peer-to-peer education campaigns in their schools, households and communities.
“Our approach is people-centred and system-oriented,” she said. “Only when every sector is engaged and every young person is empowered, can we truly break the cycle of antimicrobial resistance.”
Echoing this, AMR focal person at Africa CDC, Fauzia Mohammed highlighted the growing role of youth-led civil society groups in harmonising AMR data and strengthening implementation efforts at both national and regional levels.
“We’re examining interstate mobility and scaling youth-led coordination efforts,” she said. “These groups not only harmonise data but also ensure that civil society and media act as strategic clusters in amplifying our work.”
Mohammed said Africa CDC’s approach to AMR since its inception in 2017 has involved integrating non-state actors and civil society organisations into all levels of strategy development, from national frameworks to multilateral engagements like the UN General Assembly.
She added that initiatives are underway to train journalists across the continent, mobilise resources for country-led campaigns and co-develop effective public awareness activities, particularly during World AMR Awareness Week.
RCCE technical officer at Africa CDC, Abara Erim said the purpose of the review meeting was to evaluate progress in implementing AMS and AMR surveillance systems in West Africa.
“We’re identifying capacity gaps, sharing innovative practices, and establishing a robust Community of Practice on AMR and AMS to foster collaboration among countries,” Erim said.
He said the meeting also aimed to encourage inter-country peer learning, mobilise resources, and promote south-south collaboration to enhance resilience against AMR across the sub-region.
Science Nigeria recalls that antimicrobial resistance occurs when germs like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve to resist the drugs designed to kill them. AMR is primarily driven by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics and poses one of the most urgent global health threats today.
Health experts at the meeting warned that AMR makes common infections harder to treat, increases mortality rates, and can render entire classes of medicines ineffective, making even minor illnesses life-threatening.
“Preventing AMR is no longer optional; it is a public health imperative,” one participant said. “If we fail to act now, we risk returning to a pre-antibiotic era where routine infections and minor injuries can kill.”
The meeting ended with a consensus: to reverse the AMR trend in Nigeria and West Africa, urgent investments must be made in youth education, surveillance systems, community engagement, and the regulation of antibiotic access at every level.
