Nigerian leaders setting an example for the continent
By JONATHAN MUNDELL (1)
Two months ago, the HIV & AIDS February newsletter stressed the importance of leadership in the fight against HIV & AIDS. The article questioned how South Africa, a country that receives the largest bulk of international assistance, and devotes more resources to the epidemic than any other country in Africa, remains the country most severely affected. It went on to suggest a relative absence of strong leadership in South Africa’s attempts to address the epidemic, as the main reason for the ineffectiveness of such attempts. This can be illustrated in a country such as Nigeria, who, for instance, despite having the second largest number of HIV infections in Africa (after South Africa), has an HIV prevalence rate of just under 4% (2).
Last year, Nigeria received the third highest amount of funding from the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), behind South Africa and Kenya (3). As was discussed in the February 2008 however, generous funding does not necessarily lead to successful strategies, as strong and effective leadership is essential. Nigeria has proven this point, utilising the funding that has been made available to its full potential, with good leadership and commitment. In this month’s newsletter, Nigerian leaders are highlighted as role models for the rest of Africa, with respect to their pro-active stance on addressing the issue of HIV & AIDS.
LEADERS TARGET EDUCATION STRATEGIES
Last year, the Nigerian Minister of Education, Chief Igwe Aja Nwachukwu, stated that education is the only effective preventive vaccine against HIV & AIDS because it informs, empowers and builds skills. He added that the disease is impacting the education system severely, from absenteeism to loss of teaching hours. He made this statement at the Federal Ministry of Education and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) national dissemination meeting and launching of the policies, guidelines and learning material on school health, school feeding and HIV & AIDS education in Nigeria. In line with this call, the Federal Government and UNICEF launched four policy documents that aim to promote the integration of the health and education systems in Nigeria. The policies were designed to create a national framework for the formulation, co-ordination, implementation and effective monitoring and evaluation of school health programmes.
Following on from this, the Kwara State Government partnered with the University of Ilorin to train Bachelor of Education students on HIV & AIDS. This initiative aims to inform students within the institution’s educational faculty so that they will, as qualified teachers, be able to pass their knowledge on to their pupils. Then, towards the end of 2007, two secondary school subjects, Social Studies and Integrated Science, underwent content modification to include Family Life / HIV AIDS Education (FLHE). The Federal Ministry of Education organised the “Train-the-Trainer Workshop” to train teachers and education inspectors on the new FLHE curriculum. In a communiqué issued at the UNESCO/Federal Ministry of Education workshop on the curriculum early this year, participants called upon various educational supervising agencies to ensure that the FLHE curriculum receives the attention that it deserves. Various state governments, the State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBS’s), the Provosts of Colleges of Education, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) and other basic education supervising agencies were called upon to ensure that budgetary provisions for the training of implementers on the curriculum and dissemination of the messages of HIV & AIDS to different stakeholders in their communities.
LEADING FROM THE FRONT
It is essential for leaders in any context to lead from the front, setting an example for those who look to them for solutions. In addition to the progress that Nigerian leaders have made in the improvement and implementation of prevention and awareness strategies around the country, and making education a top priority, a number of other Nigerian leaders have also taken a stand to have a positive impact on addressing the epidemic, through leading from the front.
Late last year, Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu of the Niger State ordered all high ranked government officials to undergo screening for HIV & AIDS. The aim was to increase awareness on the importance of knowing ones status, which would also indirectly reduce the prevalence of HIV & AIDS-related discrimination.
Then, this month, Benue State governor Gabriel Tor-Suswam insisted on the need to involve traditional rulers in efforts to curb the menace of HIV & AIDS. The inclusion of traditional rulers is critical in attempts to stem the tide of the epidemic at a grassroots level. The rulers, who tested for HIV, in response to the call by the governor, said it is necessary for every traditional ruler to go for the screening, so that they can lead by example.
FEMALE LEADERS RESPOND
There have recently been a number of calls around the continent for female leaders to take a more active role in the HIV & AIDS response. Earlier this year, Mr. Akin Olakiran, the Chief Executive Officer of Complete Africa Philanthropy Solutions Limited group, stated: "Nigeria is at a stage in its development where women involvement and leadership in critical decision-making positions are crucial to its sustained economy and political success". The philanthropic organisation organised a March 2008 conference, themed “Gender and Leadership: Nigerian Women and National Development”, which aimed to increase interface among women on their role in development.
Before the conference had even taken place however, the Nigerian First Lady, Hajiya Turai, had taken her stand as a woman leader, launching the “Women Coalition on HIV/AIDS” project in January this year. Mrs. Yemisi Dooshima Suswan, the wife of the Benue State Governor, supports this project, and recently called on all governors’ wives in Nigeria to set up non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to assist vulnerable women and children in the country. Suswam’s project aims to involve the wives of all thirty-six Nigerian governors and other notable female representatives in the fight against HIV & AIDS, setting an example for women across the country, and in fact the entire continent.
PUSHING BACK THE VIOLENT SCOURGE
Returning briefly to the previous newsletter then, the importance of effective leadership in attempts to address HIV & AIDS issues cannot be stressed enough. An epidemic of such colossal proportions will continue to dominate and decimate the continent, negatively impacting on all sectors, and sucking all resources dry, until a united front, standing strong and confident, take similarly colossal strides forward to push back the violent scourge. Nigerian leaders have formed such a front, and have proven to the continent that strong leadership can make the difference between success and failure.
While there will almost always be difficulties and setbacks in such a struggle, a country whose leaders lead from the front, with the necessary support, will continue to make progress in these attempts. The African continent should be taking careful note of the continuous effort being made by the leaders of countries such as Nigeria, and learn from their example.
NOTES:
(1) Jonathan Mundell is Director: HIV & AIDS Unit at Consultancy Africa Intelligence (jonathan.mundell@consultancyafrica.com).
(2) http://www.globalhealthfacts.org
(3) http://www.pepfar.gov
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