Senior leaders from Nigeria and the United States gathered at the Abuja Continental Hotel to commemorate two decades of collaboration between the Nigeria Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme (NMODHIP) and the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR).
The ceremony, marking the 20th anniversary of the WRAIR–NMODHIP partnership, was graced by the Honorable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mattawale; the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Richard Mills; General Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff; Major General Paula C. Lodi, Commanding General of the US Army Medical Research and Development Command; Brigadier General IB Solebo, Director General of NMODHIP; Colonel Brianna Perata, Commander of WRAIR; Colonel Shannon Lacy, Director of WRAIR Africa, and Helina Meri, Country Director of WRAIR in Nigeria. Also present were senior military and health officials from both governments.
Brigadier General IB Solebo in his welcome address said the MODHIP and WRAIR collaboration has strengthened Nigeria’s military and public health response, provided access to HIV care, built world-class laboratories, and trained thousands of health workers, while leading groundbreaking research. He added that the partnership stands as a model of resilience, innovation, and impact for soldiers, families, and communities.
In his remarks, Dr. Matawalle commended the enduring partnership and the successes it has achieved in its two decades of existence; especially the lifesaving services provided by the partnership. He emphasized that the contributions are significant pillars to Nigeria’s defence, health and national security.
He closed by thanking the U.S. government for its role in the partnership and pledged continued support from the Nigerian government.
Dailypost/Toyosi Eniola
