By Mustapha Yauri
Abuja – Dr Bilali Camara, the Country Director, UNAIDS, said the agency would redouble efforts and intensify collaborations with University of Benin to boost research towards elimination of HIV/AIDS and youth enhancement programmes
Camara made this known while receiving award by University of Benin for his performance in humanitarian services in Nigeria in Abuja on Friday.
He said that the collaboration will also enhance to spread messages of HIV/AIDS services within the university community and environs.
According to him, we strongly believe that when we work with the academia on this two areas we will fast-track and excel in elimination of HIV/AIDS as a public burden quickly.
“We will also collaborate with the university to ensure that the young people future is made brighter to the youth harness there potentials.
`We will also intervene to ensure that the university is linked with various development plans of the government.
“The UN system would ensure that university and government are discussing to enable the university benefits from development programmes of the government.’’
Camara said that the UN system was already collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through various programmes to support youths in Nigeria to excel.
Prof. Ifuero Osanwonyi, Dean Faculty of Management Science, UNIBEN, who presented the award to Camara, said that it was to appreciate and motivate him and others.
Osanwonyi, who was represented by Dr Chris Oyie from the same faculty, noted that the recipient tried to uplift the life of people while he was at UNICEF, UNFPA and now UNAIDS.
According to him, his activities in past 30 years revolve around sustaining life and encouraging people to leave a healthy habit.
“HIV/AIDS and some other health challenges stops the youth who are the future leaders from achieving their dream and thereby negatively affecting our Gross Domestic Product (GDP),’’ he said.