The United Nations Women in collaboration with the Association of Women Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (ASHWAN), have reiterated steps to integrate best practices into the lives of women living with HIV/AIDS.
The UN’s collaboration with ASHWAN in providing leadership and governance training for women living with HIV/AIDS showcases a commitment to promoting inclusivity and equipping individuals with the necessary skills to contribute effectively to their communities.
During the association’s Annual General Meeting yesterday in Abuja and leadership capacity training, new executives were elected to oversee the organization’s affairs. The training programme is scheduled to take place from June 8th to 9th, 2023.
Highlighting the significance of the program, the UN national programmes officer for Normative Coordination and Partnership, Patience Ekeoba, emphasised the importance of leadership.
Ekeoba stated that the quality of a leader directly impacts the outcomes they achieve, and the opportunity for effective leadership should be utilized to benefit society.
Ekeoba further expressed the belief that leadership skills can be learnt, thereby debunking the notion that only some individuals are born to lead. The training program aims to bridge the leadership and governance gap, providing participants with the necessary skills to excel not only within ASHWAN but also in their personal lives, families, and social relationships.
Encouraging participants to take the training seriously, Ekeoba acknowledged that new insights on leadership and governance will be shared during the program.
Urging attendees to embrace these teachings, she emphasized their significance in personal growth and the effective management of ASHWAN.
Additionally, Ekeoba appealed to ASHWAN members to vote based on merit, rather than along ethnic or religious lines, when electing new leaders. She emphasised that the chosen leaders would represent the association globally and play a pivotal role in addressing the challenges faced by ASHWAN, including limited funding.
The national coordinator of the Association of Women Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria, Assumpta Reginald utilised the occasion to call upon the federal government to allocate funds for the association.
Reginald highlighted the absence of a budget specifically designated for people living with HIV/AIDS and appealed for the inclusion of ASHWAN during budget hearings at the National Assembly.
Reginald recognised all attendees as leaders at their respective levels, emphasizing the importance of community-based organisations in supporting the work conducted in Abuja.
She stressed the necessity of empowering these leaders through capacity building initiatives.
