The Lagos State government on Tuesday urged stakeholders to reposition Nigeria’s HIV response amid declining international aid.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 7th National Council on AIDS (NCA), the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, called on stakeholders to seize this pivotal moment to strengthen Nigeria’s HIV response.

The high-level council meeting, which holds 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 gathering, organised in partnership with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), brings together key stakeholders from across the country to chart a resilient and self-sustaining course for Nigeria’s HIV response.

“Millions of Nigerians still need uninterrupted, stigma-free access to lifesaving HIV services,” said Dr. Animashaun. “In Lagos, we are not perfect, but we are intentional.”

She outlined bold steps being taken by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration to upscale access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), pilot long-acting injectable HIV treatments, and review data and budgeting systems to align better with national priorities.

“We are working to strengthen health systems across all 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs, with a focus on service integration,” she added. “This includes aligning HIV programming with mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and gender-based violence (GBV) response services.”

Animashaun also expressed profound appreciation to the First Lady for her unwavering dedication to health equity, particularly in protecting the dignity and well-being of women, children, and other vulnerable populations.

While declaring the conference open, the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, called for bold, coordinated, and sustainable action to accelerate Nigeria’s HIV response in the face of shifting global donor priorities.

In her keynote address, Sanwo-Olu described the theme as “timely and urgent,” noting that as the world gradually transitions away from aid dependency, Nigeria must build homegrown resilience to sustain its HIV response.

“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 said.

The First Lady emphasised the importance of a multi-sectoral approach, especially to safeguard vulnerable groups such as young women and girls, who disproportionately bear the burden of the HIV epidemic.

“As the First Lady of Lagos State, I remain committed to addressing the unique challenges facing women and girls. Sustainability is crucial to our HIV response it will strengthen local capacity and foster community ownership,” she added.

Sanwo-Olu commended the efforts of NACA and state-level agencies while challenging delegates to question existing assumptions and embrace innovative, community-driven strategies. She also highlighted the “Free to Shine” initiative launched by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, which targets the triple elimination of HIV, hepatitis, and syphilis across all six geopolitical zones. Lagos, she confirmed, is actively participating in the initiative.