The MOSAIC Project, a 5-year global project led by FHI 360 and funded by PEPFAR through USAID, focuses on introduction and access to new biomedical prevention products to prevent HIV for women in sub-Saharan Africa​.

In December 2022, the Nigerian National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), in partnership with MOSAIC, launched the country’s first-ever national youth-focused HIV prevention campaign: Generation-Negative, or “Gen-N.”

Gen-N is a movement fueled by Nigeria’s 43.2 million young people that promotes uptake and effective use of HIV prevention, care, and treatment services by adolescents and young people. Gen-N builds on vast evidence about what works to motivate young people to access health services and aims to foster a social environment that supports young people’s use of these services.

The Gen-N campaign was unveiled nationally during the annual World AIDS Day commemoration event hosted by NACA on December 1, 2022. Several side events were held between 28^th and 29^th November 2022 preceding the launch, which featured the following stakeholders: Adolescents and Young People (AYP), Implementing Partners (SFH, UNICEF, APIN, AHNi, CIHP), USAID, NACA, the National AIDS and STDs Control Programme (NASCP), and UNAIDS. The opening remarks were given by UNAIDS Country Director, Dr. Leo Zekeng. The first event, a technical session to introduce Gen-N, included an introduction to the campaign by Dr. Daniel Ndukwe, NACA’s Deputy Director and Head of Prevention.

Adaobi Olisa, FHI 360/MOSAIC’s NextGen Squad, led the youth dialogue where young people discussed perceptions of HIV among their peers and how Gen-N can address gaps and correct misconceptions. “Many young people fear HIV because they don’t have the correct information, and this fear feeds stigma and discrimination and forces them to make the wrong decisions. Gen-N will help enlighten young people and promote a HIV-negative generation,” said one of the young people participating in the dialogue.

Young people also participated in a campaign roadshow, where they engaged with community members and gave them information on HIV prevention. After the roadshow, members of the HIV Media Advocacy Platform interviewed young people and representatives of NACA and MOSAIC about the campaign’s goals, generating high-level media coverage, including newspaper and TV reports.

Finally, the Gen-N campaign was unveiled nationally during the annual World AIDS Day commemoration event hosted by NACA on December 1, 2022.

Find more information on Gen-N here: THE GEN-N CAMPAIGN: YOUNG PEOPLE LEAD THE WAY TO AN HIV-FREE NIGERIA