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	President Obasanjo addresses the crowd at the Leadership Award Dinner.

On February 19, 2003, HAI presented His Excellency President Olusegun Obasanjo with the 2002 Leadership Award at a special ceremony in the Nigerian capital of Abuja. The award ceremony was attended by over two hundred dignitaries including the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, the Honorable Howard F. Jeter and the former President of the Republic of Botswana, President Ketumile Masire.

"It is a great honor for me to bestow this award to you, your excellency, President Obasanjo for all you have done to demonstrate such exemplary leadership for the fight against AIDS in Nigeria, in Africa and in the world" said HAI Chair Max Essex.

Nigeria is Africa's most populous country with over 120 million people. Its history is one of bitter internal strife and civil war. However, in 1999 President Obasanjo’s democratic election heralded a new and hopeful chapter in Nigeria’s history including a concerted government effort to stop the spread of HIV. Candor, compassion and commitment have characterized President Obasanjo's response to the AIDS epidemic. The President has made combating HIV and AIDS a personal priority. He has taken every opportunity to create awareness about the spread of HIV, to encourage other African leaders to publicly address the problem and has strongly supported the Federal Ministry of Health to design and implement a national antiretroviral therapy program.

The President demonstrated exceptional political commitment by setting up the Presidential Action Committee on AIDS, of which he is chairman. In addition, he established a multi-sectoral National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA) to lead a broad-based expanded response to HIV and AIDS in Nigeria. In August 2001, he ordered the free distribution of condoms to members of the Nigerian armed forces, a high-risk group. In March 2002, he became the first African leader to host the Organization of African Unity Summit on HIV and AIDS. "This terrible thing we call HIV/AIDS, for which there is no cure, must not be allowed to take the upper hand in our country," he said.

According to the Joint United Nations Programme against HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), there are close to five million people living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria. At the United Nations in September 2002, President Obasanjo declared "We as people and governments of Africa have resolved to take our destiny in our own hands. We are determined to succeed in our desire to make the 21st century the century of Africa."

For such distinguished leadership, his mission to build a vibrant future for his citizens, and his commitment to resolving the HIV and AIDS epidemic, HAI was honored to present the 2002 Leadership Award to His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.