By Abdullahi Lukman
The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) has organized a capacity-building workshop in Nigeria to strengthen the skills of young scientists working on water insecurity, public health risks and research challenges across the country and Africa.
The programme opened on Wednesday, November 26, at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), bringing together global experts, senior academics and early-career researchers for the 2025 ASM Mentorship Week and Water Treatment Workshop.
Hosted at CEsPESS, the workshop is one of ASM’s most ambitious mentorship and water-safety trainings in West Africa.
Declaring the event open, Sylvia Anyadoh-Nwadike, ASM Country Ambassador to Nigeria, described the programme as a milestone for Nigerian microbiology and a defining moment for emerging African scientific leaders.
She noted that the initiative comes as the continent faces rising water insecurity, climate-driven diseases, antimicrobial resistance and widening research gaps.
Anyadoh-Nwadike said the week-long sessions will equip participants through hands-on workshops and career development activities, including water-treatment technology training, scientific publishing and grant-writing masterclasses, public-health and industry pathway sessions, speed mentoring and international collaboration opportunities.
She warned that Africa’s scientific progress remains fragile without sustained mentorship and structured institutional support.
Participants were encouraged to engage fully, ask questions and seek mentorship throughout the week.
The workshop featured leading figures such as California-based water-health expert Robert Metcalf, whose decades of work have influenced global water-safety interventions.
Award recipients and finalists, including 2025 ASM Mentorship Award winner Musau Wakabongo, also joined panels alongside industry leaders and Nigerian researchers in public health, entrepreneurship, innovation and science communication.
Anyadoh-Nwadike acknowledged key partners supporting the programme, including the International Water, Health and Development Alliance (IWHA), the Overseas Community Research and Education Foundation (OCREF), and BusinessDay Media, the event’s media partner.
