On 1st December, 2015 the University Community joined the rest of the world to commemorate this year’s World Aids Day, with the theme “Getting to Zero.”

The year’s celebration kicked off with a parley titled, “Creating Awareness: Combating HIV/AIDS Menace.” The discussants drawn from members of Faculty were: the Director, University Health Services, Dr. Ademola Adebanjo; Head of Programme, Biological Sciences, Dr. Charles Okolie; and Dr. (Mrs.) Ekundayo Durowaiye a Lecturer in the Department of Sociology. The discussants among Students were Miss. Olaosebikan Dolapo, Sociology Department; Mr. Ibidun Oladayo, Crop Science Department; and Mr. Adeniji Emmanuel, Computer Science Department. The parley also had in attendance, students of Adeoti International College, Omu-Aran.

Tracing the history of the HIV menace to when the first case was identified in Nigeria, the discussants affirmed that an estimated 3.1 percent of adults between ages 15-49 are living with HIV/AIDS and the first two cases of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria were identified in 1985and were reported at an international AIDS conference in1986. They unanimously attested to the fact that HIV could be spread from an infected person to another person through direct contact with the person’s body fluids. The body fluids from an HIV-infected person mentioned include Blood, Semen (cum), Pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum), Rectal fluids, Vaginal fluids and Breast milk. These body fluids must come into contact with a mucous membrane or damaged tissue or be directly injected into bloodstream (by a needle or syringe) for transmission to possibly occur. Mucous membranes are the soft, moist areas just inside the openings to one’s body and private parts. Having established the facts surrounding the scourge, they expressed worry over the poor level of awareness among the youth who are most vulnerable to the disease. They called on the Government to intensify action towards creating more awareness of the disease by further strengthening the National Agency for the Control of HIV and AIDS (NACA) to see to the end of the menace in the Country. They concluded by calling for an end to stigmatization which describes the attitude people portray against those suffering from the Virus.

The Representative of The Vice-Chancellor, Dr. John Izebere, appreciated the Discussants for their insight. He enjoined the participants to spread the news about the HIV menace. However, he assured all of God’s protection from incurable diseases, as exemplified in the scriptures. He concluded by praying for all participants, stating that “in our lifetime, HIV will get to zero.”

At the Art Exhibition to mark the day, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Aize Obayan stated that The University was excited to be part of the global community on World Aids Day, 2015. “As a University, we are joining the rest of the World for preventing and managing the HIV scourge. Our message as a University is that we care and we want to bring HIV down to zero,”the Vice-Chancellor emphasized. She called for rigorous awareness for the Omu-Aran youths who are also in a vulnerable group to the disease. She pronounced Miss. Faith Jolayemi, a student of Adeoti College, Omu-Aran, Ambassador for Prevention of HIV/AIDS, for asking a heartwarming question on how the message of HIV/AIDS could be spread and the prevention of mother to child transmission during the parley.

In her response, Miss Jolayemi on behalf of her School appreciated the University for the privilege to become the University’s Ambassador.

After going round the Art works exhibited by the students, the Vice-Chancellor, who was inspired by the work of art immediately gave approval for the establishment of ‘Landmark University Art Club.’