The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), in collaboration with the Global Fund and key implementing partners, will convene a national close-out meeting on 25 June to reflect on the achievements, lessons learned, and lasting impact of the COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) investments in Nigeria.

The meeting, to be held in Abuja, will bring together representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health, state governments, development partners, civil society organisations, implementing partners, healthcare workers, and other stakeholders who played critical roles in implementing the C19RM grant between 2021 and 2025.

The Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response Mechanism was established to support countries in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic while strengthening health systems and safeguarding progress against HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria. In Nigeria, the investment supported a wide range of interventions to strengthen public health preparedness and response capacities, including improvements in disease surveillance, laboratory systems, infection prevention and control, oxygen infrastructure, cold-chain systems, healthcare workforce capacity, and emergency response mechanisms.

The Director-General of NACA, Temitope Ilori, said, “We learned through COVID-19 that being prepared for one emergency isn’t just about that emergency, it’s about being prepared for any emergency.

“C19RM investments in emergency response mechanisms, supply chain resilience, and rapid deployment capacity are now embedded in our health systems planning and programming.”

The close-out meeting will provide an opportunity to showcase key achievements recorded under the grant, examine lessons from implementation, highlight innovations and best practices, and discuss strategies for sustaining the gains made through the investment.

The event will also feature presentations from implementing agencies and partners, stakeholder reflections, panel discussions, and the premiere of documentary and storytelling products developed to capture the human impact and legacy of the C19RM investment across Nigeria.

Tajudeen Ibrahim, executive secretary, Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) Nigeria, said, “The C19RM grant demonstrated the power of effective partnership, positioning, coordination, engagement, oversight and country ownership in responding to a public health emergency.

“Beyond supporting Nigeria’s COVID-19 response, the investments have strengthened critical health systems and facilitated pandemic preparedness and response capacities that will continue to benefit the country for years to come. As we close this chapter, our focus must remain on sustaining these gains and leveraging the lessons learned to build a more resilient health system for all Nigerians.”

Speaking ahead of the event, stakeholders noted that the close-out meeting is not only an opportunity to celebrate achievements but also to strengthen the collective commitment to building resilient health systems that can respond effectively to future public health emergencies.

As Nigeria continues to strengthen its health security architecture, the lessons and investments from the COVID-19 Response Mechanism remain an important foundation for future preparedness, disease control, and health system resilience.

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The close-out meeting is expected to attract senior government officials, development partners, public health experts, implementing organisations, and representatives from communities that benefited from the intervention.

Attendance Information

Attendance at the C19RM Close-Out Meeting is by invitation only and will include representatives from government institutions, development partners, implementing organisations, civil society, academia, and other key stakeholders involved in implementing the C19RM grant.

Members of the public and interested stakeholders who are not attending in person are encouraged to participate virtually through the event livestream.

Livestream Details: https://bit.ly/c19rm

About COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM)

The COVID-19 Response Mechanism (C19RM) is a special funding mechanism established by the Global Fund to support countries in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, mitigating its impact on HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria programmes, and strengthening health and community systems for future emergencies.

The Kwankwasiyya Movement has said it welcomes criticism but will not tolerate what it described as false and defamatory claims against its leader, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

In a statement issued on Wednesday night to DAILY POST, its spokesperson, Habeeb Sale Mohammed, stressed that while democratic engagement allows for differing opinions, there must be a clear distinction between constructive criticism and deliberate falsehood.

“We are open to criticism, but not lies,” the statement said, noting that political leaders are expected to face scrutiny in a democratic society.

The movement said it believes in freedom of expression and the right of Nigerians to hold and express political views.

The statement added that it welcomes criticism when it is constructive, factual and aimed at strengthening democratic culture.

It, however, warned against the spread of what it called malicious allegations.

“There is a clear distinction between legitimate political criticism and the deliberate publication of falsehoods designed to deceive the public, damage reputations, incite hatred or create divisions,” the statement added.

The group said Senator Kwankwaso, who has spent decades in public service, has always shown tolerance and maturity in handling criticism and opposition.

“Neither Senator Kwankwaso nor the Kwankwasiyya Movement is afraid of criticism or political opposition,” it said.

But it maintained that it would not remain silent in the face of what it described as deliberate lies and character assassination.

“We will not fold our arms and watch individuals deliberately manufacture lies, spread malicious allegations or engage in character assassination under the guise of political commentary,” the statement said.

The movement warned that those spreading false claims should be ready to defend them through legal means.

“Any individual or group that intentionally disseminates false and malicious allegations against our leader should be prepared to defend such claims through lawful and appropriate channels,” it said.

It added that freedom of expression comes with responsibility.

“Public discourse must be guided by facts, evidence and honesty. Democracy cannot thrive where falsehood is elevated above truth,” the statement noted.

The movement also stressed that no individual is above the law, regardless of status or position.

“No individual is above the law. No office is too high. No position is too influential. Whether the source of the falsehood is a politician, a cleric, a traditional ruler, a media personality or any other public figure, we shall not hesitate to pursue every lawful remedy available to protect the integrity, reputation and dignity of our leader and our movement,” it added.

The statement further noted that since his emergence as vice-presidential candidate of the NDC, Kwankwaso has been working to build alliances across the country.

It highlighted his relationship with the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, saying their collaboration has inspired hope among Nigerians seeking credible leadership.

“It is not surprising that the growing acceptance of Senator Kwankwaso and the rapid rise of the NDC have become a source of concern to some political interests,” the statement said.

The group accused some individuals of resorting to misinformation and personal attacks instead of engaging in healthy political competition.

“Such malicious and unprovoked attacks will neither distract us nor discourage us from pursuing our vision for a more prosperous and united Nigeria,” it added.

The statement comes in the wake of remarks by Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder and head of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos, who allegedly made comments during a sermon questioning Kwankwaso’s relationship with Peter Obi.

Ayodele was reported to have said, “Kwankwaso is a fake to Obi, Kwankwaso will betray you. Kwankwaso has been paid to be vice president to Obi.”

Following the comments, Kwankwaso, who is the vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), reportedly threatened to institute a N10 billion defamation suit against the cleric over the alleged remarks.