Nigeria and the United States have marked 20 years of a successful military-to-military health partnership that has transformed public health and strengthened national security.
The ceremony, which took place at the Abuja Continental Hotel, brought together top military and health officials from both countries. The partnership between Nigeria’s Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme (NMODHIP) and the U.S. Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) has spanned two decades of impactful healthcare delivery, research, and training.
The event was attended by high-profile guests including Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle; the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Mills; Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa; Major General Paula C. Lodi of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command; Brigadier General IB Solebo, Director General of NMODHIP; and other senior military and health personnel from both nations.
In his welcome address, Brigadier General IB Solebo highlighted the milestones achieved since the partnership began in 2005.
“This collaboration has played a key role in improving the health and readiness of our military personnel and the wider community,” Solebo said. “Together, we have built strong systems for HIV care, conducted groundbreaking research, trained thousands of healthcare workers, and set up top-tier laboratories.”
He described the partnership as “a model of resilience, innovation, and impact,” adding that it has had direct benefits for soldiers, their families, and the Nigerian public at large.
In his remarks, Dr. Matawalle praised the partnership for its commitment to saving lives and enhancing Nigeria’s defence health systems.
“This collaboration has contributed immensely to our health security. It stands as a strong pillar supporting Nigeria’s defence and public health,” the minister said. He thanked the U.S. government for its continued support and assured that Nigeria remains committed to sustaining the partnership.
Since its inception, the WRAIR-NMODHIP partnership has made major contributions to HIV/AIDS care under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), as well as in other areas such as biosecurity, infectious disease research, and malaria control.
Over the past 20 years, more than 69,000 adults and children have been placed on antiretroviral therapy (ART), with over 40,900 still on treatment. In total, 77,000 people have enrolled for care under the program.
HIV testing services have reached 1.6 million people, leading to the identification of 110,097 positive cases, a 7% yield. Among pregnant women, 277,975 have been tested, out of which 15,098 tested positive and 13,377 have been placed on ART, reducing the risk of mother-to-child transmission.
The partnership has also focused on strengthening Nigeria’s health systems. More than 2,000 healthcare workers have been trained in HIV and tuberculosis care, and over 50 laboratories across the country have been upgraded.
In 2024, a major milestone was achieved with the opening of a state-of-the-art Tuberculosis Modular Laboratory at the Defence Reference Laboratory in Abuja. This facility has improved Nigeria’s diagnostic capacity and helped raise biosafety standards across West Africa.
U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, in his remarks, said the partnership is not just about science, but about the strength of collaboration.
“This partnership is a testament to the power of unity and shared purpose,” Mills said. “Together, WRAIR and NMODHIP have turned challenges into opportunities, proving that we can achieve great things through joint efforts.”
Helina Meri, Country Director of WRAIR-Africa in Nigeria, echoed similar sentiments, thanking both governments for their leadership.
“This partnership shows the true power of science and cooperation in improving lives. It stands as an example for the rest of the world,” she said.
As both nations celebrate 20 years of partnership, they also look ahead to the future. Leaders at the event reaffirmed their commitment to continue working together to face new health threats and ensure even better outcomes for the Nigerian people.
