DRASA Health Trust, in collaboration with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Centre for Infection Control and Patient Safety (CICaPS), and the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), officially launched the SayAMR Language Hackathon at a hybrid press conference held in Abuja, Nigeria, on 10th October 2025.

The event brought together government representatives, journalists, public health experts, and students to emphasize the importance of using indigenous languages to communicate Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in a way that is relatable, understandable, and impactful across Nigeria.

Why a Language Hackathon?

AMR is a major global health threat where microorganisms - bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites - evolve to resist the medicines used to kill them. This makes infections harder to treat, increasing the risk of severe illness and death. It affects humans, animals, and the environment. However, AMR is often misunderstood, particularly due to language barriers, as the scientific terms used to describe the phenomenon are too technical for everyday understanding among key audiences and communities.

The SayAMR Language Hackathon is a creative initiative designed to develop national consensus on acceptable terminologies for AMR in four indigenous Nigerian languages - Hausa, Igbo, Pidgin, and Yoruba. It seeks to drive ideation by inviting students in Nigerian universities to develop terminologies for AMR in the four languages.

This creative competition aims to foster youth-led innovation, bridge knowledge gaps caused by language barriers, enhance understanding, support grassroots AMR awareness initiatives, and improve the AMR narrative.

Event Highlights

The press conference was organized as a half-day event, designed to engage the media and the public through structured communication and interactive sessions.
The Opening and Welcome Address by Niniola Williams, Managing Director of DRASA Health Trust, highlighted the vision and objectives of the AMR Language Hackathon.

Dr Jide Idris, Director General, NCDC, and Prof Andrew Haruna, Secretary General, CVCNU emphasized the implications of AMR and the importance of innovative communication strategies to bridge the AMR knowledge gap. In addition, Prof. Andrew Haruna, Secretary General of CVCNU, expressed readiness to work with universities nationwide to participate in the hackathon.

Framing the Session, Dr Tochi Okwor, Head of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at NCDC, highlighted the importance of the hackathon, explaining that AMR rolls back gains achieved in the treatment of infections.

Some of the stakeholders in attendance gave their goodwill messages, from AMR and public health experts, to the youth. Dr Chavan Laxmikant, Technical Officer, AMR and One Health Coordinator at the World Health Organization (WHO); Dr Ayodele Majekodunmi, Executive Director at Ajisefini Consulting; Chidinma Ibe, Program Officer at the International Research Centre of Excellence, Institute for Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN); and Adeyeye Blessing, Alumni Engagement Officer, Antimicrobial Resistance Intervarsity Training Programme (AMR ITP), underscored the collaborative approach and pledged institutional support for the Hackathon.

Call for Applications

Oluwatoni Akinola, the AMR Program Manager at DRASA Health Trust, presented the SayAMR Language Hackathon Brief, highlighting the overview of the Hackathon, eligibility criteria, application and selection process, and expected outcomes.

To humanize the threats of AMR, Pharmacist Mashood Lawal, Member, WHO Task Force for AMR Survivors, shared his story and recounted how he battled and survived AMR.

Impact and Media Coverage

The launch generated significant national attention, with coverage across several media platforms, including the National Television Authority (NTA), Arise News, This Day, Science Nigeria, The Peoples Gazette, The Nation, and the News Express, which amplified the message across various media platforms.

Voices from the Press Conference

“Language is not just communication. It is a combination of culture, connection,  and empowerment.”
- Prof Andrew Haruna, Secretary General, CVCNU

“The SayAMR Language Hackathon recognizes that prevention is not only about medicine or policy, it’s also about language. How we speak about AMR determines how people understand it, and how they act.”
- Niniola Williams, Managing Director, DRASA Health Trust

“A key emphasis of the One Health AMR National Action Plan 2.0 is on people-centred approaches, making sure that what we say, do, and implement resonates with communities across the country. And this is why the SayAMR Hackathon is so important. With more than 500 languages spoken in Nigeria, inclusion is not optional; it is essential.”
- Dr Jide Idris, Director General, NCDC

“This initiative represents the next evolution in our communication strategy as a national AMR Program. We really have to name it right, if we want to own the fight.”
- Dr Tochi Okwor, Head, Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, NCDC

“The hackathon will mitigate the gap in language and AMR in Nigeria.”
- Adeyeye Blessing, Alumni Engagement Officer, AMR ITP

Next Steps

Following the successful launch, the dissemination was kicked off by DRASA Health Trust and its partners, having planned information sessions to further explain the hackathon and its processes.

The information sessions about the hackathon can be found on our YouTube channel. Catch up here.

For more information on timelines, eligibility criteria, and how to participate, kindly visit the website: https://drasatrust.org/sayamr-hackathon/

To catch a glimpse of the SayAMR Language Hackathon Press Conference, watch the live recording here