The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has called on all stakeholders involved in Nigeria’s HIV response to intensify and sustain their efforts in order to achieve the global target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. The charge was delivered by Gabriel Undelikwo, Community Support Adviser at UNAIDS Nigeria, during a press conference and candlelight memorial held to honour people who have lost their lives to HIV/AIDS while reaffirming a collective commitment to continued action.
The event, organised by the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), formed part of activities commemorating the 2025 World AIDS Day. This year’s theme, “Overcoming Disruptions: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response,” speaks directly to the country’s determination to maintain progress in its HIV interventions despite economic pressures, global health uncertainties, and persistent structural challenges. It also highlights stakeholders’ shared responsibility in ensuring that effective prevention, treatment, and care continue to reach communities across all states.
Undelikwo noted that the latest UNAIDS report points clearly to a historic opportunity: the world can end AIDS by 2030—but only if nations safeguard human rights and ensure equitable access to services, particularly for people living with HIV and populations most at risk. According to him, Nigeria must stay firmly on the path of sustaining and expanding its HIV response, strengthening rights-based services, closing treatment gaps, and preventing new infections, especially among children. Only through consistent, well-coordinated action can the country meet the global target.
He explained that the candlelight memorial was not only a moment of remembrance but also a symbol of collective resolve. It represented solidarity with families and communities who have lost loved ones, while also reinforcing the nation’s determination to confront stigma, support those affected, and push for continued advancements in treatment and care. “This memorial reminds us why we must not relent,” he said. “It honours those we have lost and strengthens our resolve to ensure no more lives are cut short by AIDS.”
Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of the Society for Family Health (SFH), Dr. Omokhudu Idogho, called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, civil society groups, communities, and development partners. He stressed that Nigeria must continue to push forward until HIV is no longer regarded as a public health emergency. According to him, SFH has spent more than three decades providing leadership, compassion, and technical expertise in the national HIV response — building resilient communities, expanding access to services, and empowering individuals through stigma reduction and continuous support systems.
Dr. Idogho highlighted that through policy innovation, programme resilience, and strategic partnerships, Nigeria has witnessed remarkable improvements in HIV prevention, treatment, and care. These gains, he noted, have ensured that hope — not fear or stigma — increasingly shapes the daily experiences of people living with HIV. But he warned that the fight is not yet won. Sustaining progress requires renewed commitment, investment, and partnership across all levels.
Representing the Global Fund’s Country Coordinating Mechanism, Winifred-Abbo Agogo described the 2025 theme as fully aligned with Nigeria’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, which prioritises health, human capital development, inclusive growth, and efficient systems capable of expanding access to essential HIV services. She emphasised that community leadership remains central to achieving these goals. Communities, she said, must take bold steps in education, testing, treatment adherence support, and continuous advocacy.
Agogo urged Nigerians to speak out firmly against stigma and discrimination, which remain major barriers to service uptake. She called for deeper partnerships between communities, civil society organisations, and government institutions to ensure that vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations are not left behind. “The progress we seek can only be achieved when those most affected are at the centre of the response,” she noted.
As Nigeria joins the global community in commemorating World AIDS Day 2025, the message from stakeholders remains consistent: the nation has made remarkable progress, but sustaining that progress is crucial. With strengthened collaborations, rights-based approaches, and unwavering commitment from communities, Nigeria can stay on track to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. The candlelight memorial ended with renewed pledges to honour the memories of those lost and to continue working tirelessly until the goal of an AIDS-free generation becomes a reality.
