Bingham University on Thursday 27th August 2026 held its 14th Inaugural Lecture, with Professor Prosper Ifeanacho Okonkwo urging Nigeria to move HIV response from laboratory breakthroughs to sustainable, people-centered impact.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Haruna Kuje Ayuba, while welcoming guests, noted that molecular science, vaccines, antiretroviral therapies and diagnostics have slowed the epidemic. However, he said, scientific ingenuity and breakthroughs alone are insufficient to address the complex socio-economic and cultural factors influencing HIV transmission and treatment adherence in Nigeria.

He added that achieving sustainable impact now requires a multidimensional approach that integrates science with policy, education, community engagement, and health system strengthening.

 According to the Vice Chancellor, the lecture aims to bridge the gap between laboratory discoveries and real-world applications to improve health outcomes and foster sustainable development.  

Prof. Ayuba commended Prof. Okonkwo for the lecture, describing it as insightful and transformative. ‘’May this lecture inspire us all to continue to bridge the gap between science, policy and societal impact in ways that contribute to Nigeria’s progress in health and sustainable development’’.

Delivering the lecture titled “Beyond Molecules: From Science to Sustainable Impact in Nigeria's HIV Response”, the Professor of Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology in the Department of Community Medicine and Primary Health Care, said while scientific innovations have saved millions of lives, the war against HIV is yet to be over.

He noted that Nigeria has built one of the world’s largest HIV treatment programmes, growing from about 15,000 people on treatment in its early years to more than 1.78 million people by 2023. Modern treatment means a person with an undetectable viral load can live a long, and healthy life.  

Professor Prosper Okonkwo revealed challenges are no longer about medicine but domestic financing, equity, institutional reliability and trust.  Financing is the biggest sustainability risk, external partners funded 93% to 96% of Nigeria’s HIV programme between 2019 and 2021,” he said.

Prof. Okonkwo welcomes government steps of the National Health Compact signed in November 2025 and a N22.68 billion co-financing provision for HIV, TB and Malaria in the 2026 budget. 

According to him, Children are still being infected, about 160,000 Nigerian children aged 0 -14 are living with HIV.  In 2023, an estimated 22,000 children acquired HIV and 15,000 died from AIDS-related causes.  With treatment during pregnancy and after birth, mother-to-child transmission can fall from 45% to below 5%.  Yet only 66% of women who needed prevention in pregnancy were reached in 2024. Rapid progress is possible when prioritized, in one year of focused action, treatment coverage for children already diagnosed rose from 29% to 74%. The gap between children and adults is not inevitable; it can be closed, equity gaps remain HIV prevalence among key populations is 8 to 21 times the national average of 1.4%, he said.  

He disclosed that barriers such as stigma, discrimination, criminalization, distance to clinics, transport costs, and fear of disclosure were still challenges faced. 

In conclusion, the lecturer gave five recommendations including, Protection of HIV laboratories as a national asset; Fund and govern it for health security - Write HIV treatment into health insurance; Move from donor dependence to domestic financing with subsidies; Integration into primary health care HIV, hypertension, and mental health; Resource and monitor it, Design care around trust.

In his closing remarks, the Registrar, Mr. Daburi Bello Misal, congratulated the 14th Inaugural Lecturer, Prof. Prosper Ifeanacho Okonkwo, for delivering an insightful lecture. He also expressed appreciation to the distinguished personalities in attendance, including the Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola; the Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Tamitope Ilori; Emeritus Prof. Alhassan Yakubu, members of Senate, family members, and other invited guests.

The highlight of the event included goodwill messages, the presentation of a plaque to the lecturer and the lecture book to the Vice-Chancellor, as well as a photo session. 

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Directorate of Public Affairs 

Office of the Vice-Chancellor 

Bingham University