By Obianuju Isima
The Anambra State AIDS Control Agency (ANSACA) and the Anambra State Small Business Agency (ASBA) have opened discussions on expanding economic and livelihood opportunities for people living with HIV (PLHIV), with a focus on entrepreneurship, business development, cooperatives and access to eligible credit facilities.
The engagement, held on Sept. 8 at the ASBA office in Awka, explored ways to connect qualified members of the PLHIV community with existing enterprise support, training opportunities that can help them strengthen their livelihoods and become more economically independent.
Representing the Executive Director of ANSACA, Dr. Nkem Okeke, was Mr. Paschal Igbokwe, Unit Lead, Grant Writing and Proposal Development, who led the ANSACA delegation, highlighting some of the socioeconomic challenges that can affect people living with HIV, including stigma and discrimination, unemployment and limited access to business capital.
Igbokwe stressed the importance of addressing these barriers as part of a broader HIV response, noting that people need opportunities to develop sustainable livelihoods while accessing the health services and support they require.
Responding, the Acting Managing Director of ASBA, Barr. Nonso Emeka, welcomed the engagement, expressing the agency’s readiness to support qualified beneficiaries within its mandate.
He explained that ASBA focuses on enterprise and business development, supporting individuals, business clusters and cooperatives in areas including agriculture, tailoring, garment making and shoemaking.
Emeka encouraged PLHIV who already operate businesses or possess relevant entrepreneurial skills to form or join viable cooperatives, noting that organised groups can be better positioned to access available business support and credit opportunities.
He highlighted entrepreneurship training programmes offered through ASBA and its partners, including the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), covering areas such as business development, financial literacy and entrepreneurship.
The Acting Managing Director, however, clarified that ASBA does not provide general grants. Rather, its support is delivered through enterprise development services, entrepreneurship training, business facilities and low-interest credit opportunities available to eligible individuals, clusters and cooperatives that meet the stipulated requirements.
He assured the ANSACA delegation that ASBA would share information on relevant training programmes and other opportunities as they become available, while qualified members of the PLHIV community could be considered for suitable slots.
The engagement concluded with both agencies agreeing to maintain communication and explore practical ways of connecting qualified PLHIV with legitimate economic opportunities.
ANSACA appreciated ASBA management for its openness and willingness to collaborate, describing the engagement as a step toward reducing socioeconomic barriers that can affect the wellbeing and economic stability of people living with HIV.
The collaboration underscores the importance of complementing HIV prevention, treatment and stigma-reduction efforts with sustainable livelihood opportunities that can help people living with HIV build stronger livelihoods, support their families and contribute to their communities.
Obianuju Isima is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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