The Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe has urged
operators in the private sector to join hands with the Nigerian
Business Coalition Against AIDS (NIBUCAA), a non-governmental
organisation in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS.
He gave the charge at a dinner party in Lagos recently, organised by
NIBUCAA for key players in the business sector, seeking their
partnership on how to reduce the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
Wigwe, who is a Co-chair of the board of NIBUCAA said the scourge of
HIV/AIDS still persists in the country with Nigeria having the second
largest AIDS population in the world.
“We have to realise that HIV/AIDS is not just a health problem, it is
a developmental challenge. Therefore, the private sector cannot afford
to be complacent with regards to the scourge.
“It is eminently desirable that private sector supports all efforts
geared towards the realisation of the goal of the multi-sectoral
response to HIV pandemic in particular under the Sustainable
Development Goals,” he added.
The Managing Director of Total E&P Nigeria and a Co-chair of NIBUCAA
Board, Nicolas Terras, said the fight against HIV/AIDS was too big for
the government to handle alone.
According to him, captains of industries have collective leadership
roles to play in the multi- sectoral response to HIV and AIDS, adding
that the scourge is one that must be won at all costs.
He said NIBUCAA, as a platform should be a veritable channel for the
private sector to utilise their core competencies and resources
towards addressing the issue of HIV/AIDS prevalence in the country.
Osagie Okunbor of Shell Petroleum Development Company, said the
organisation since its establishment has achieved a lot in the fight
against HIV/AIDS, but added that a lot still needed to be done.
He said that is the more reason why other companies must come onboard
NIBUCAA in other to achieve one of its goals of supporting the private
sector to establish and implement workplace and community- based
HIV/AIDS prevention and education programmes.
Also commenting on why it is important for the private sector to
partner NIBUCAA in its drive to eradicate HIV/AIDS from Nigeria, the
Executive Secretary, NIBUCAA, Gbenga Alabi, quoting Juan Somavia, a
former Director General of the International Labour Organisation, said
two out of three people living with HIV or AIDS go to work every day,
making the workplace a vital entry point for tackling the menace.
He said Nigeria’s greatest assets and investment opportunity is its
human capital, therefore, all hands must be on deck at ensuring that
the human capital, which is the country’s source of economic growth
and development be protected and enlightened about the menace of
AIDS/HIV.
