In a strategic move to enhance awareness and tackle the stigma surrounding Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has partnered with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) to initiate a nationwide sensitization campaign across Nigeria.
The initiative was solidified during a courtesy visit by a delegation from NACA to NOA's headquarters, where the Director General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, reiterated the agency’s commitment to the cause. He emphasized the crucial role of public education in combating HIV/AIDS and pledged to utilize NOA's vast communication infrastructure to reach communities across all six geopolitical zones.
Expansive Reach and Multi-Platform Communication Strategy
According to Issa-Onilu, NOA’s operational strength—comprising 818 office locations and 774 local government offices—will serve as a foundation for the awareness drive. In addition, the agency will harness the power of its partnerships with 198 radio stations and 40 television stations to amplify messaging across both rural and urban centers.
To further enhance outreach, NOA will deploy digital tools including social media influencers, animated content, and its internal media assets, such as The Explainer print publication, and its in-house television and radio studios.
He also called on NACA to explore innovative, homegrown strategies to sustain intervention programs, particularly in light of the declining international support—especially the recent cutbacks in HIV/AIDS program funding by the United States government.
Shifting the Narrative: From Fear to Empowerment
Issa-Onilu emphasized the importance of evolving from fear-based messaging to a more empathetic and informed approach that portrays HIV/AIDS as a manageable condition. “We must move past the era of fear and recognize that HIV, like hypertension or diabetes, can be controlled with proper treatment and care,” he stated, highlighting the need for de-stigmatization and compassionate discourse.
NACA Urges Ownership of HIV Response
Echoing these sentiments, the Director General of NACA, Dr. Temitope Ilori, stressed that while antiretroviral treatment has drastically reduced visible cases of full-blown AIDS, especially among youth, it has also led to a false perception that HIV is no longer a threat. She warned that misinformation, especially on social media, continues to undermine public understanding of the virus and called for targeted communication to drive behavioral change.
Dr. Ilori praised NOA for its extensive grassroots presence and media capabilities, urging the agency to play a leading role in disseminating accurate, stigma-free information about HIV prevention, testing, and treatment.
“Strengthening inter-agency collaboration is vital to Nigeria’s long-term HIV response,” she said. “We must take full ownership of this fight and ensure that accurate information reaches every Nigerian.”
Towards a Stigma-Free, Well-Informed Society
Both agencies reaffirmed their shared commitment to creating a more informed and inclusive society—one where individuals living with HIV/AIDS are no longer marginalized, and where prevention and care are accessible to all. As the partnership takes shape, the campaign is expected to play a transformative role in shifting perceptions, dispelling myths, and building a national culture of compassion, awareness, and resilience in the fight against HIV/AIDS.