Beyond the stereotype model of the private sector providing cash to support public-minded initiatives, innovative approaches have been developing that extend the role of businesses to a whole new level of participation, involvement and partnership. Examining this emerging paradigm forms the crux of a high-level engagement meeting with the top echelon of Nigeria’s business community taking place in Lagos next week.

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola and the Honourable Minister of Health Prof. Christian Chukwu are expected to personally address the event which theme is “Increasing Returns on Investments in the fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria”. To help with exploring options and opportunities available to the private sector in Nigeria, the Global Fund secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland is sending a team in addition to their local counterparts.

In a letter co-signed by the NACA Director General Professor John Idoko and Global Fund Nigeria Country Coordinating Mechanism Chairman Dr John Jinung, invitations were extended to Heads of Corporate Affairs, Corporate Social Responsibility, Human Resources or External Relations of multiple companies.

Scheduled for Protea Oakwood Hotel, Lekki Expressway, Lagos on Thursday 8th July 2010 at 9.00a.m prompt, the meeting aims at identifying possible areas of engagement to foster public-private partnerships focusing on the transfer of technical skills/support. As part of this upcoming event, a subsequent CEO’s dinner to be hosted by ACCESS Bank Plc will provide occasion for high level commitments and pledges from the organisations present.

The event organisers are the Federal Ministry of Health, National TB Programme, National Malaria Control Programme, Friends of the Global Fund Africa, and Global Business Coalition (GBC). Others are The Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, Nigerian Business Coalition against AIDS (NiBUCAA), Global Fund Nigeria Country Coordinating Mechanism and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA).