The First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has officially declared open the 7th National Council on AIDS (NCA), making a passionate call for bold, coordinated, and sustainable actions to strengthen Nigeria’s HIV response amidst evolving global donor policies.
The high-level meeting, hosted from August 5 to 7, 2025, at the Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, is themed: “Advancing the HIV Sustainability Agenda in the Changing Global Policy on Aid.” The event is held in collaboration with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and convenes stakeholders across sectors to forge a resilient, homegrown strategy to combat HIV/AIDS.
In her keynote address, Dr. Sanwo-Olu described the theme as “timely and urgent,” urging Nigeria to pivot from aid dependency and embrace locally sustainable solutions.
<span;>> </span;>“This conference brings together key stakeholders from across the country to deliberate on how best to strengthen our national HIV response within the evolving global health landscape,” she stated.
Highlighting the disproportionate impact of HIV on women and young girls, the First Lady emphasized the need for a multi-sectoral approach that protects vulnerable populations.
<span;>> </span;>“Sustainability is crucial to our HIV response—it will strengthen local capacity and foster community ownership,” she noted.
She praised NACA and state-level agencies for their ongoing commitment and challenged delegates to rethink existing frameworks and adopt community-driven, innovative strategies. Dr. Sanwo-Olu also spotlighted the “Free to Shine” initiative championed by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, targeting the triple elimination of HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis. Lagos State, she confirmed, is actively implementing the initiative.
Also speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, CEO of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), urged delegates to use the council as a turning point to refocus national HIV efforts amid dwindling donor funding.
<span;>> </span;>“Millions of Nigerians still need uninterrupted, stigma-free access to life-saving HIV services,” Dr. Animashaun asserted. “In Lagos, we are not perfect, but we are intentional.”
She outlined several progressive initiatives spearheaded by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration, including the expansion of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), pilot programs for long-acting injectable treatments, and integrated health services across all 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs. These initiatives are aimed at aligning HIV care with mental health, reproductive health, and gender-based violence response.
Dr. Animashaun commended Dr. Sanwo-Olu for her unwavering advocacy for health equity, particularly in championing the rights of women, children, and marginalized communities.
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