“Free to Shine”: FG Launches HIV/AIDS Campaign In the South East, Urges Youth To Lead The Fight
As Nigeria intensifies its fight against HIV/AIDS, a powerful message is resonating from the South-East: the youth must lead the charge.
The Federal Government, in partnership with the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), has officially launched the ‘Free to Shine’ campaign in Enugu, rounding off the regional rollout of the continental initiative aimed at ending HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis by 2030.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, who flagged off the campaign during her working visit to the state, described the initiative as critical to safeguarding future generations, especially women and children.
“Nigeria bears the highest burden of HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa, and too many children are still being born with the virus,” she said. “This campaign is about prevention, treatment, and most importantly, hope.”
Backed by international partners such as WHO, UNAIDS, and UNICEF, the campaign aims to deepen grassroots awareness, particularly regarding mother-to-child transmission, testing, and access to antiretroviral therapy (ART).
The Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, hailed the First Lady as Nigeria’s “Chief Public Health Champion”, noting that over 1.7 million Nigerians are currently receiving ART, with promising signs of declining infection rates nationwide.
But the most stirring appeal came for Nigeria’s youth.
“You are our most vulnerable group, but also our strongest hope,” the First Lady urged. “Protect yourselves. Make informed choices.”
Dr Salako added with a striking reminder: “The best prevention for HIV and other STIs is a cup of water, not before, not after, but instead of sex.”
With the South-East now fully engaged, and the ‘Free to Shine’ campaign running under the Renewed Hope Initiative, Nigeria appears firmly on track to meet the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets where 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of them receive treatment, and 95% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression.
It’s more than a campaign, it’s a movement fuelled by facts, care, and a vision of an HIV-free generation.
