Abuja: The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has called for sustainable financing and stronger domestic resource mobilisation to safeguard Nigeria’s HIV response amid declining global development assistance. The Director-General of NACA, Dr. Temitope Ilori, made the call during the Nigeria Event at the 26th International AIDS Conference (IAS 2026) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, themed: ‘Rethink. Rebuild. Rise.’
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ilori stated that the theme aligned with Nigeria’s commitment to building a more resilient, self-reliant, and sustainable HIV programme, emphasizing the country’s sub-theme ‘Sustainability: Strengthening Resource Mobilisation for the National HIV Response in Nigeria.’ She highlighted that the future of Nigeria’s HIV response would depend not only on scientific breakthroughs and effective interventions but also on establishing resilient financing systems capable of withstanding evolving global economic realities.
Ilori acknowledged the progress Nigeria had made in the last two decades through partnerships involving the Federal Government, development partners, civil society organisations, communities of people living with HIV, and the private sector. She emphasized that these collaborations have significantly expanded HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support services, leading to improved health outcomes for millions of Nigerians.
She warned that the global financing landscape was changing as development assistance continued to decline, while competing national and global priorities placed increasing pressure on available resources. Ilori stated that this changing environment presented both a challenge and an opportunity, urging a reimagining of how the HIV response is financed and an acceleration toward greater domestic ownership and sustainability.
The NACA head stressed that sustainability went beyond replacing donor funding, noting that it required stronger institutions, improved governance, greater efficiency, innovation, and expanded partnerships. She described the dialogue as an opportunity to deepen collaboration, identify practical solutions, and forge stronger partnerships that would shape the future of Nigeria’s HIV response.
The NACA boss also announced that the agency would convene a Post-IAS Stakeholders’ Engagement Meeting after the conference to review lessons, innovations, policy directions, scientific advances, and best practices from IAS 2026. The meeting will focus on translating the outcomes of the conference into practical and specific actions for Nigeria’s HIV response.
In his remarks, Mr. Basil Okolo, Charge d’Affaires of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Brazil, said the event came at a significant period when Nigeria and Brazil had entered a renewed phase of strategic partnership. Okolo noted that recent high-level bilateral engagements had reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to expanding cooperation across critical sectors, particularly health.
He stated that the renewed partnership reflected the confidence of both nations in South-South cooperation as a catalyst for sustainable development and improved health outcomes. Health has emerged as a strategic pillar of the renewed cooperation, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange, local manufacturing of health commodities, research collaboration, regulatory strengthening, and health systems innovation.
Okolo emphasized that no country could achieve these ambitions in isolation and that success would depend on stronger partnerships among governments, development partners, academia, civil society, communities, and the private sector. He commended development partners for their continued support and expressed optimism that the conference would strengthen collaboration toward achieving sustainable health outcomes.