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Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The Federal Government and UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations (UN) Programme on HIV/AIDS, yesterday, signed a cooperation agreement in Abuja.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, signed on behalf of the federal government, while the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibe, stood in for UNAIDS.
In his remarks, Onyeama said the cooperation agreement was a welcome development since it will enable government to have direct relationship with UNAIDS.
He said hitherto, before the signing of the agreement, UNAIDS had been under the umbrella of the larger UN body.
The minister expressed delight that UNAIDS and the federal government have been able to formalise the bilateral relationship to capture the cooperation of UNAIDS and government more directly; within the framework.
“I think, in recognition of the status of your organization, we are delighted to be able to formalise this bilateral relationship and to capture our cooperation more directly within that framework,” Onyeama said.
In his response, Sidibe said he was pleased to be in the ministry, particularly as the day witnessed the launch of the survey on HIV/AIDS by President Muhammadu Buhari.
