needed to perform them, resulting in a weak A JOURNEY SO LONG, YET SO RIPE: BENSACA BOARD MEMBERS TRAINED ON GOVERNANCE functionality

of the Board. It is clear that for Boards to successfully govern National and State Agencies for the Control of HIV and AIDS, they need to have It has been over 30 years that Nigeria as a country has been battling the HIV epidemic. Many efforts have been made to promote ownership and to ensure a sustainable response to the epidemic. Separate resources and time available for their professional development. Confronted

frequently by constituency complaints and media reports on governance failures, NACA and SACA Boards and their

committees have

constituted at national

and state levels to provide oversight and to coordinate the response. These are called National and State Agencies for the Control of AIDS (NACAs/SACAs). The DFID funded ENR (Enhancing Nigerias response to HIV/AIDS) programme identified and advocated the need to transform these committees into agencies. This requires agencies to be backed by law and stakeholders acknowledged that governing by instinct alone does not support NACA and SACAs to succeed in their campaign against the HIV epidemic and in mitigating its impact on people who have been infected and affected by the disease. Thus , NACA in collaboration with the DFID through the ENR project acknowledged the To aid accountability, an apex body is constituted within each NACA and SACA which is the Board of Governors. However, the ability of these boards to demonstrate accountability to stakeholders has been limited. This is because board members often neither have sufficient knowledge of their roles and responsibilities nor the skills
1

resourced by the government at all levels. This would contribute to the full of HIV and AIDS into the operations of all sectors in the country.

need to empower their board members by enhancing their skills and knowledge,

required to become proficient in providing strategic direction to the HIV and AIDS response in Nigeria. This informed the

development and delivery of a Board Governance training.

respectful partnership between the two and Ensuring understand that board members their roles and

responsibilities, and apply board operations principles and strategies to position BENSACA as a leading agency and vital resource in the campaign against the epidemic for partners and stakeholders.
Governance Training for NACA and SACAs.

Key modules covered by the training include: Introduction and Basic Overview of

Aim and Objectives This ground breaking training is the first of its kind in Nigeria. For the first time since the inception of NACA and SACAs, a structured training using a board

Board Governance; SACA Vision, Mission and Purpose; Basic Functions of Boards; Board Committees; Holding Effective

Meetings; Interpersonal Skills Relevant to Board Operations; Board Development; Basis of Good Governance; Effective Use of Policies and Board Liabilities and Risk

governance manual and curriculum was organized for the Benue State AIDS Control Agency (BENSACA) Board to empower them with requisite competencies for the effective performance of their duties. The training was aimed at enabling BENSACA Board to implement its board manual, leading to effective governance and management of the states HIV and AIDS response. The training include: Ensuring board that NACA and SACA understand the specific objectives of the

Management, amongst others. Participants Reactions: During the training participants continuously demonstrated learning through comments and contributions. In his response to the usefulness of the training vis--vis what is expected of board members, a participant described himself as the steering of a car during an introductory exercise. As the steering, he believes he possesses the capacity to move the HIV/AIDS vehicle in Benue State through knowledge and

members

difference between governance (the Boards job) and management ( staffs job) and empowering them to contribute to a productive and

information. His reaction to the training

2

stated thus: I have been on the BENSACA Board for over two years and willing to contribute to board development without the requisite skills and tools to do soThis training has made me a better person; knowledge and skills acquired from this speaks volumes: This training should have come earlier, he lamented. He adds We have been acting in a vacuum so to speak, because there was nothing to use as a guideline for our Board proceedings. training will be used to enrich my

membership of the board and my leadership role in NCWSI will henceforth help raise funds for BENSACA.

However, now we need to be acting like members of the National Assembly referring to every section and sub-section of the constitution. We are committed towards doing the same thing using the Board Governance Manual as reference during our meetings. Mrs. Rebecca Kogi Another participant commented: Board meetings will be more productiveWe need to learn from our mistakes. This is serious business and must be accorded the

seriousness it deserves. I will raise my voice in meetings, make contributions and ensure Ona Ode, State Director of Information and Orientation and a serving member of the BENSACA Board. Hon. Mrs. Rebecca Kogi, a board member and a national leader of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) that meetings are productive and produce results It is no longer going to be business as usual This training is a welcome development.

participated actively in the training and

3

Ter Makurdi, the

paramount ruler of the

responsibilities of the board and my role in the board especially as a traditional leader.

Tivs in Makurdi, Chief JD Sule Abenga JP1 attended the training. The paramount ruler celebrated the training. He explained that: I have been doing so much in my constituency especially for OVCsI award scholarships but on this board I have brought nothing Yes, maybe my connection and clout but this has not translated into tangible benefits for BENSACA and the board. My thinking is different now; before!. this

Speaking about traditional institutions and their role in halting the rising spread of HIV and AIDS in the state, he reflected: There are so many traditional practices that are fuelling the HIV epidemic. I must bring some of these practices to the attention of the board so that together we can develop strategies to address these. As a Board, we need to advocate for the anti stigma bill to be passed into are law. Stigma in and the

board needs my support more than ever

discrimination

strong

communities. We need to do something about this and I will start by supporting sensitization activities in my domain . The presence of Ter Makurdi boosted morale among other participants and demonstrated his dedication. Expounding his role as a traditional leader, Ter Markudi commented, The training has clarified my role in the
Ter Markudi (right) in his traditional regalia listening to a group presentation

boardI will be careful about who I associate with and what I do as a board member. As a traditional leader, it will be sacrilegious to find me in prison because of my indiscretion or that of a fellow board member !

Commenting on the training delivery and methodology; This is a cutting edge training. The facilitators kept me awake, alert and attentive I now know the

The Benue State Hon. Commissioner for

1

The Ter Makurdi represents traditional leaders on the BENSACA board. He is somewhat of a mayor in Makurdi as the Royal Representative of the Tivs in Makurdi the Benue State Capital.

Health Dr. Orduen Abunku, who represents the

under the leadership of Mrs. Grace Ashi Wende as the Executive Secretary (ES). The ES explained that BENSACA enjoys robust support from the Benue State Government. According to her, The

expectation is that after this training the Board will serve as an effective liaison between the state government, BENSACA and the people of Benue State.. My hopes
Mrs. Grace Wende, ES BENSACA, making a group presentation

for better results have increased She expressed profound appreciation to the

Governor on the BENSACA board, also actively participated in the training. He has been on the board for over a year. He described the training as laudable and

Benue State Government for co-funding the training and to ENR for its immense financial and technical support.

timely. He considered the training a much needed board orientation and promised to inform government of all matters needing executive attention from the Board. For more information about the Board Governance Training Manual and

Curriculum for SACAs, please contact: Hajia Maimuna and Mohammed, Coordination, Director NACA.

Partnership Email: and Dr. Munirat

maimuna.mohammed@gmail.com

Ogunlayi,

Stewardship

&

Coordination Manager, Enhancing Nigerias Response UKAID/DFID

The Hon. Commissioner for Health Dr. Abunku sharing thoughts with the Facilitator

to

HIV

&

AIDS

(ENR), Email:

Supported.

Mogunlayi@enrnigeria.org; iamogunlayi@hotmail.com

BENSACA

was

transformed

from

committee into a full-fledged agency in 2008