A leading Nigerian medical expert, Professor Ali Ajibola Akanbi II, has issued a stark warning about the escalating global threat posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR), describing it as a "silent pandemic" that could rival or surpass the devastation of COVID-19 if urgent action is not taken.
Delivering the 288th Inaugural Lecture of the University of Ilorin on Thursday, July 31, Professor Akanbi, a Consultant Clinical Microbiologist, spoke passionately on the theme “The Pandemic of Antimicrobial Resistance and the Experience of a Clinical Microbiologist.”
He cautioned that widespread misuse and overuse of antibiotics — in both humans and agriculture — is accelerating the rise of drug-resistant infections, rendering common treatments increasingly ineffective.
“We are heading towards a time when common infections may no longer respond to treatment due to the reckless abuse of antibiotics,” he warned.
Professor Akanbi emphasized that AMR is more than a medical challenge; it is a societal crisis requiring coordinated efforts from governments, healthcare professionals, and the public.
“If we continue down this path, even newly developed antibiotics will become useless. Without responsible usage, we are undermining our own medical advances,” he said, highlighting the danger of even new antibiotics becoming obsolete in the face of unchecked resistance.
In his address, the professor outlined a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach to curb the spread of AMR.
He called for sustained public education to combat the dangerous habits of self-medication, incomplete antibiotic courses, and the sharing of leftover medications.
“People must understand the risks involved in misusing antibiotics. These are not painkillers or vitamins,they are precision tools meant to be used under expert guidance,” he stressed.
To ensure responsible prescription practices, Professor Akanbi advocated for strengthened antibiotic stewardship programmes, emphasizing the importance of prescribing “the right drug, at the right dose, for the right duration.”
He further recommended incorporating combination therapies, probiotics, and prebiotics into treatment protocols, along with improved infection prevention and control measures in hospitals and farms.
“It’s about prescribing the right drug, at the right dose, for the right duration. Anything short of that breeds resistance.”
A key point in his lecture was the need for robust surveillance systems to monitor AMR trends.
“Without accurate data, we’re fighting blind,” he said, stressing that data is essential for shaping effective treatment guidelines and policy decisions.
The microbiologist also highlighted the environmental dimension of the crisis, urging stronger regulations to prevent antibiotic contamination of water and food systems through agricultural runoff.
“Managing waste and runoff from farms is vital in curbing the spread of resistance,” he noted.
Professor Akanbi appealed to the Nigerian government to ban over-the-counter sales of antibiotics, enforce existing pharmaceutical regulations, and invest in national awareness campaigns.
“The government must lead the charge through stronger policy and enforcement mechanisms,” he said.
He concluded with a call for global cooperation, stating, “No country can fight AMR alone. International cooperation and harmonized policies are essential to address this growing threat.”
The lecture, attended by academics, healthcare workers, and students, sparked renewed commitment among stakeholders to push for reforms and responsible antibiotic practices across all sectors.
As antimicrobial resistance continues to rise globally, experts like Professor Akanbi are urging both urgency and unity in addressing what may become one of the 21st century’s most severe public health crises.
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