Senior leaders from Nigeria and the United States gathered at the Abuja Continental Hotel on Tuesday to mark
20 years of collaboration between the Nigerian Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme (NMODHIP) and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR).
The ceremony was attended by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle; U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills; Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; Major General Paula C. Lodi, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command; Brigadier General I.B. Solebo, Director General of NMODHIP; and senior health and military officials from both nations.
In his welcome address, Brigadier General Solebo said the collaboration had strengthened Nigeria’s public health response, expanded access to HIV care, built world-class laboratories, and trained thousands of health workers.
He described the partnership as “a model of resilience, innovation, and impact for soldiers, families, and communities.”
Dr. Matawalle commended the enduring cooperation and highlighted its role in strengthening Nigeria’s defence, health, and national security. He thanked the U.S. government for its support and pledged continued collaboration.
Established in 2005, the partnership focuses on HIV programs through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), biosafety and biosecurity initiatives, and infectious disease research.
It has also contributed to malaria control efforts under the President’s Malaria Initiative.
Over the past two decades, the program has significantly improved health outcomes in Nigeria. More than 69,000 adults and children have received antiretroviral therapy, while 77,000 have been enrolled in HIV care. HIV testing services have reached 1.6 million clients, identifying over 110,000 positives.
Among pregnant women, nearly 278,000 have been tested, with more than 13,000 placed on treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission.
The partnership has also trained over 2,000 healthcare workers and upgraded more than 50 laboratories across Nigeria.
In 2024, it commissioned a state-of-the-art tuberculosis modular laboratory at the Defence Reference Laboratory in Abuja, improving diagnostic capacity and regional biosafety standards.
Ambassador Mills praised the partnership, describing it as “a testament to the power of unity.” He noted that both nations had turned challenges into opportunities, delivering extraordinary results for communities.
Helina Meri, Country Director of WRAIR-Africa in Nigeria, also expressed gratitude to both governments, stressing that the partnership showcases the impact of science and cooperation on public health.
As the collaboration enters its third decade, both Nigeria and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining the program and preparing for future health challenges.