AMR-NNCGSI winners announced

In November 2025, the Nursing Now Challenge (NNC), in collaboration with the new AMR Futures Lab at Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI), launched a Nursing Now Challenge Global Solutions Initiative (NNCGSI) to empower student and early-career nurses and midwives around the world to take action on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), one of the most urgent threats to global health today.

Through this challenge, participants were invited to design an innovative, nurse/ midwife-led AMR project that could be implemented in their workplace or community. The initiative sought to spotlight the critical role nurses and midwives play in infection prevention, and antimicrobial stewardship, in the advancement of sustainable health solutions.

“AMR Futures Lab, based at the University of Edinburgh’s Futures Institute, is dedicated to tackling antimicrobial resistance through collaborative, evidence-driven solutions specifically involving end users and adopters of these solutions. By integrating research insights with global frontline healthcare expertise we develop practical strategies that improve patient outcomes and strengthen health systems worldwide in the fight against AMR.” Professor Till Bachmann, Founder AMR Futures Lab.

Today, we are delighted to announce the winners of this NNCGSI who will now receive mentoring from expert researchers in the field of AMR, providing invaluable guidance and support to develop their projects. They will also have the opportunity of winning a study visit to leading secondary care hospitals in Bangalore to learn about antimicrobial stewardship as well as support on developing their idea further to implementation.

Hear from our winners below…

Lois Ezebuiro, Nigeria

“I am deeply honoured and motivated to be selected as a winner. This validates my conviction that nurses don’t need more education about AMR—we need tools to transform our daily observations into evidence that drives change. Being recognised gives me the platform and credibility to turn the AMR Sentinel Network into reality.

This process sharpened my thinking immensely. Developing the concept note, preparing the presentation, and defending my approach in the interview forced me to move from frustration, to strategy. Engaging with the global nursing community through this initiative reminded me that nurse-led innovation is not just possible—it’s essential.

Through mentorship with Professor Bachmann and Dr. Paul, I aim to build technical rigour around data quality and surveillance standards, develop stakeholder engagement strategies for hospital and government buy-in, create a roadmap for scaling from 30 nurses to a national network, and position findings for publication and policy influence. I want to emerge with not just a functional platform, but the expertise to champion nurse-led AMR solutions at the highest levels.”

Amantle Gabolekwe, Botswana

“I would be doing injustice to my authentic self if I didn’t admit that my initial reaction to being selected as a winner was pure disbelief and joy. I screamed when I saw the email, and screamed even more when I opened and read the letter. It was an incredibly affirming moment, and I am deeply excited to be mentored by Prof Bachmann and Dr Paul, whose expertise in antimicrobial resistance I greatly admire, as I prepare to launch this project. Last year, I wrote an article for Nursing Times where I quoted the words of Dr Karen Moore that “any nurse, at any stage, can move the needle,” and being part of the NNCGSI has made that belief tangible for me.

I am truly grateful to now be moving it as a final year undergraduate student. Participating in the NNCGSI was both challenging and transformative. Coming into the programme with limited prior knowledge of AMR, I had to consult widely and immerse myself in research. I was initially discouraged by the scarcity of Botswana-specific AMR literature, but this gap ultimately became a catalyst for action and informed one of the three core pillars of my AMPLIFY-AMR initiative. The process also pushed me beyond traditional nursing boundaries, as I developed a prototype learning application and learned basic programming skills to bring my idea to life. Through this challenge, I gained not only a deeper understanding of AMR, but also critical skills in project development, innovation, and interdisciplinary thinking.

Through the mentoring programme, I hope to refine and strengthen AMPLIFY-AMR into a fully implementable and scalable model. I am excited to learn from experienced leaders, gain deeper insight into implementation and systems thinking, and connect with a network of like-minded individuals who are passionate about driving change. Most importantly, I hope to grow as a nurse innovator and leader who can contribute meaningfully to antimicrobial stewardship efforts in Botswana and beyond.”

Kabirat Salau, Nigeria

“Being selected as an NNCGSI winner is honestly still sinking in. I’m excited and overwhelmed in the best way possible. This was as much about proving to myself I could design and defend a solution to global health experts as it was about the proposal itself. Participating in this initiative pushed me beyond my comfort zone. Developing the concept note forced me to think systematically about turning what I observe at work into organised programmes, while the interview taught me that frontline nursing insights aren’t just anecdotal but valuable evidence worth building rigorous programs around. Through the mentoring programme, I hope to gain everything I currently lack: how to design credible evaluation frameworks, navigate complex stakeholder landscapes and scale nurse-led interventions from “this worked in my clinic” to “this works across Nigeria.” Beyond technical skills, I’m eager to connect with other nurse innovators and build the confidence to continue driving nurse-led innovation throughout my career. Ultimately, I want to emerge equipped not just with a successfully implemented project but as someone who can elevate nursing voices in global health conversations.”