In commemoration of the 2026 World Malaria Day and in alignment with the global “United Against Malaria” agenda, PUNCH Media Foundation will host another edition of the PUNCH Webinar Series themed Malaria in Nigeria: A Shared Fight, A Collective Solution on Tuesday, 28 April 2026, at 11:00am via Zoom.
The PUNCH Webinar Series is an initiative of PUNCH Media Foundation to mark select United Nations (UN) international days, with a focus on raising awareness and addressing issues critical to the Sustainable Development Goals.
This edition will examine Nigeria’s malaria response, identify execution gaps, and promote actionable collaboration across government, healthcare systems, civil society, the private sector, academia, and the media. It will convene a carefully curated mix of thought leaders and practitioners across the malaria response value chain to share insights and drive solutions toward a malaria-free Nigeria.
Speakers at the event include Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Ilorin and Strategic Adviser on Malaria Elimination at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Olugbenga Mokuolu; Director of the Centre for Transdisciplinary Research in Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases at the University of Lagos, Professor Wellington Oyibo; and Founder/Chief Executive Officer of Serendipity Healthcare Foundation, Samirah Faruk.
This convening comes at a critical time when Nigeria continues to bear the highest burden of malaria globally, amid challenges such as shrinking donor funding, evolving drug-resistance patterns, persistent behavioural and systemic barriers, and climate-driven transmission dynamics. These realities underscore the urgent need for stronger domestic ownership, smarter resource utilisation, deeper collective responsibility, and sustained public accountability.
The Head of Programmes and Research at PUNCH Media Foundation, Ms Rebecca Erureh noted that the webinar represents a critical opportunity to deepen awareness of Nigeria’s malaria burden while advancing practical and sustainable solution pathways. She emphasised that beyond raising awareness, the Foundation aims to catalyse informed action and collective responsibility that will significantly reduce the burden of malaria and accelerate progress towards its elimination in the coming years.
Other distinguished speakers include the National President of the Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners, Dr Kayode Adesola, and Editor, PUNCH HealthWise, PUNCH Nigeria Limited, Angela Onwuzoo. The session will be moderated by Development Communications Professional and Journalist at PUNCH Newspapers, Deborah Tolu-Kolawole.
Through initiatives like this, PUNCH Media Foundation continues to foster a collaborative ecosystem where knowledge drives action, accountability is strengthened, and solutions are co-created, turning conversations into meaningful outcomes.
PUNCH Media Foundation (PMF) is the development arm of PUNCH Nigeria Limited. It was established in 2019 with a mission to stimulate a just, inclusive, and thriving civic space using the instrument of accountability journalism, digital journalism, public policy advocacy, and media development. PMF leverages the power of the media, technology, and advocacy to drive sustainable social change in Nigeria.
To be part of this conversation, register via this link: https://tinyurl.com/PMF-MALARIADAY-2026
