Nigeria's Dr. Maina and Dr. Nwankpa Win WOAH Award

On May 18, 2026, during the 93rd General Session of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) held in Paris, France, Dr. Junaidu Maina, the former Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, and Dr.

Nick Nwankpa, the Acting Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), were honored with the 2026 WOAH Meritorious Award. This award recognizes their outstanding contributions to animal health, veterinary science, research, and vaccine quality assurance.

The event was addressed by Idi Mukhtar Maiha, the Minister of Livestock Development in Nigeria, who underscored the country's commitment to transforming the livestock sector through strategic investments in animal health systems and veterinary services. The session also focused on enhancing international collaboration to combat transboundary zoonotic diseases and discussed the importance of disease intelligence systems and surveillance frameworks.