In a decisive move to enhance the country’s capacity to monitor and respond to meningitis outbreaks, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), in partnership with the Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques (CSRS) and with support from global health research charity Wellcome Trust, convened a high-level National Stakeholders Workshop focused on strengthening meningitis genomic surveillance in Nigeria.
The workshop, which took place today, brought together critical stakeholders from across the public health spectrum, including researchers, laboratory scientists, policymakers, representatives from academic institutions, and international partners. The event centered on conducting a situational analysis of Nigeria’s existing infrastructure and operational landscape in relation to the genomic surveillance value chain for meningitis.
Meningitis remains a significant public health concern in Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions which lie within the African meningitis belt—a stretch of sub-Saharan Africa known for recurrent outbreaks of the disease, especially during the dry season. With the country often recording seasonal spikes in meningitis cases, early detection and rapid response are critical to saving lives. Genomic surveillance—the process of analyzing the genetic material of disease-causing organisms—has become an essential tool in understanding the patterns, evolution, and spread of meningitis-causing pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis.
During the session, experts evaluated the current capacity of laboratories to sequence and analyze meningitis pathogens, identified existing gaps in workforce skills and infrastructure, and proposed strategic interventions that could help strengthen the genomic surveillance ecosystem. The meeting also emphasized the importance of coordinated data sharing, policy alignment, and sustainable funding mechanisms to support long-term implementation.
According to public health officials at the event, the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s broader goal of achieving epidemic preparedness and response through data-driven strategies and precision public health. The NCDC, under the leadership of its Director General, continues to advocate for the integration of genomic tools into disease surveillance frameworks to ensure timely identification of outbreak strains and more effective deployment of vaccines and treatments.
The collaboration with CSRS, a leading scientific institution based in Côte d’Ivoire, brings additional regional expertise to the table, highlighting the transnational effort required to combat meningitis in West Africa. Meanwhile, support from the Wellcome Trust underscores the international community’s growing recognition of genomic surveillance as a cornerstone of global health security.
As Nigeria looks ahead to achieving the World Health Organization’s (WHO) roadmap to defeat meningitis by 2030, today’s stakeholder engagement signals a firm commitment by health authorities and partners to harness cutting-edge science in safeguarding the lives of millions across the country.
