A four-day leadership workshop has successfully equipped 32 emerging leaders from Nigeria’s health, livestock, environment, and chemical events sectors with enhanced capabilities for collaborative One Health leadership. The ‘Cross-Sector Leadership Workshop for Next Generation One Health Leaders’ workshop, jointly delivered by UKHSA’s International Health Regulations Strengthening Project (IHR-SP) with Nigeria CDC Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (HEPR) department, the Ministry of Environment (MoE), Health, Livestock and National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) provided a dynamic platform for advancing the One Health approach to complex global challenges. By focusing on next-generation leaders across multiple sectors, the workshop aimed to ensure sustainable capacity for addressing complex health security challenges requiring coordinated responses.

The four-day event co-designed and co-delivered by organising partners combined expert-led discussions, interactive exercises, and real-world simulations. Participants engaged in hands-on learning to develop the skills necessary for effective cross-sector leadership in an increasingly interconnected world.

IHR-SP One Health Technical Advisors led comprehensive sessions exploring One Health principles and the role of cross-sector collaboration, whilst IHR-SP Workforce Development technical advisors shared evidence-based communication strategies for bridging sectoral gaps, and focused on leadership styles, enabling participants to identify and refine their personal leadership approaches.

Day two focused on aligning personal leadership goals with sector priorities, applying systems thinking, and testing crisis response through a simulated outbreak. Day three emphasised team dynamics, collaboration, and strategic planning, with sessions on cross-sector engagement, leadership in information sharing, and team action plan presentations. The final day highlighted personal effectiveness, intersectoral leadership, and future strategies, concluding with action plan presentations and closing remarks underscoring the need for continued collaboration and development.

Image: participants of the workshop taking part in leadership strengthening activities

The workshop’s success is evidenced by feedback from participants, all of whom reported complete satisfaction with workshop content and facilitation, whilst 96% agreed that the facilitators had strong knowledge and communication skills. Key takeaways reinforced the importance of deepening understanding of One Health, strengthening cross-sector collaboration, and enhancing leadership in emergencies.

Beyond immediate skill development, the workshop has established mechanisms for continued collaboration. Whilst launching a strengthened network of Next Generation One Health Leaders, future plans to be explored by the partnership include mentorship programmes, intersectoral project development, and expansion of leadership training to senior officials across ministries. Almost all participants (96%) indicated plans to embed One Health leadership activities within their annual work plans, with NCDC and UKHSA providing continued support through technical guidance, senior leadership engagement, and targeted capacity-building. This joint support is designed to help address institutional barriers and ensure that the lessons from the workshop are translated into sustainable action.

The success of the workshop and the strengthened network of trained professionals represents a significant investment in Nigeria's long-term health security resilience, laying the groundwork for a more collaborative, resilient, and proactive One Health leadership community. This initiative reinforces the IHR-SP’s commitment to supporting partner countries in building robust health security capabilities through collaborative partnerships that recognise local expertise whilst sharing international best practices.