Leopold Zekeng

These programs reflected a localized approach, emphasizing evidence-based interventions and coordination among government, civil society, and health institutions in rapidly improving HIV outcomes in urban settings.

These programs reflected a localized approach, emphasizing evidence-based interventions and coordination among government, civil society, and health institutions in rapidly improving HIV outcomes in urban settings.

As of 2022, he serves as [[UNAIDS]] Country Director in [[Nigeria]], leading the response in [[Africa]]’s most populous nation. In this role, he has worked with the [[Nigerian]] government, the [[National Agency for the Control of AIDS (Nigeria)|National Agency for the Control of AIDS]] (NACA), and civil society to promote equitable treatment access, reduce stigma, and improve maternal and child health outcomes.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://guardian.ng/opinion/leveraging-communities-leadership-to-end-aids-in-nigeria/|title=Leveraging communities’ leadership to end AIDS in Nigeria|date=November 27, 2023}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://guardian.ng/news/unaids-acknowledges-nigerias-progress-in-hiv-response/|title=UNAIDS acknowledges Nigeria’s progress in HIV response|date=July 6, 2023}}</ref><ref name="auto5"/><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://naca.gov.ng/naca-strengthens-partnership-with-unaids-to-advance-national-hiv-aids-response/|title=NACA Strengthens Partnership with UNAIDS to Advance National HIV/AIDS Response - NACA Nigeria|date=March 26, 2024|website=naca.gov.ng}}</ref>

As of 2022, he serves as [[UNAIDS]] Country Director in [[Nigeria]], leading the response in [[Africa]]’s most populous nation. In this role, he has worked with the [[Nigerian]] government, the [[National Agency for the Control of AIDS (Nigeria)|National Agency for the Control of AIDS]] (NACA), and civil society to promote equitable treatment access, reduce stigma, and improve maternal and child health outcomes.<ref name="auto2-fixed">{{Cite web

|url=https://guardian.ng/opinion/leveraging-communities-leadership-to-end-aids-in-nigeria/

|title=Leveraging communities’ leadership to end AIDS in Nigeria

|website=The Guardian Nigeria

|publisher=Guardian Newspapers

|date=November 27, 2023

|access-date=4 July 2025

}}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://guardian.ng/news/unaids-acknowledges-nigerias-progress-in-hiv-response/|title=UNAIDS acknowledges Nigeria’s progress in HIV response|date=July 6, 2023}}</ref><ref name="auto5"/><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://naca.gov.ng/naca-strengthens-partnership-with-unaids-to-advance-national-hiv-aids-response/|title=NACA Strengthens Partnership with UNAIDS to Advance National HIV/AIDS Response - NACA Nigeria|date=March 26, 2024|website=naca.gov.ng}}</ref>

== UNAIDS Country Leadership ==

== UNAIDS Country Leadership ==

* [[Nigeria]] reported a 45% reduction in new [[HIV]] infections as of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2022/09/10/new-hiv-infections-down-by-45-unaids/|title=New HIV infections down by 45%: UNAIDS}}</ref>

* [[Nigeria]] reported a 45% reduction in new [[HIV]] infections as of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pmnewsnigeria.com/2022/09/10/new-hiv-infections-down-by-45-unaids/|title=New HIV infections down by 45%: UNAIDS}}</ref>

* [[Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS|UNAIDS]] acknowledged significant strides in treatment access, including 1.8 million people on therapy by mid‑2023.<ref name="auto1"/>

* [[Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS|UNAIDS]] acknowledged significant strides in treatment access, including 1.8 million people on therapy by mid‑2023.<ref name="auto1"/>

<ref name="auto-fixed">{{Cite web

* He was commended for strengthening [[Nigeria]]’s [[HIV]] program through partnerships at a 2024 [[National Agency for the Control of AIDS (Nigeria)|NACA]]–[[Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS|UNAIDS]] meeting.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto6">https://punchng.com/1-6m-of-2m-nigerians-with-hiv-receiving-treatment-naca-dg/{{Dead link | date=July 2025 | fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

|url=https://naca.gov.ng/naca-strengthens-partnership-with-unaids-to-advance-national-hiv-aids-response/

|title=NACA Strengthens Partnership with UNAIDS to Advance National HIV/AIDS Response

|website=NACA Nigeria

|publisher=National Agency for the Control of AIDS

|date=March 26, 2024

|access-date=4 July 2025

}}</ref>

== Selected publications and media appearances ==

== Selected publications and media appearances ==

* Zekeng, L. (2023). "Leveraging communities’ leadership to end [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]] in [[Nigeria]]." The Guardian [[Nigeria]].<ref name="auto2"/>

* Zekeng, L. (2023). "Leveraging communities’ leadership to end [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]] in [[Nigeria]]." The Guardian [[Nigeria]].<ref>{{Cite web

|url=https://guardian.ng/opinion/leveraging-communities-leadership-to-end-aids-in-nigeria/

|title=Leveraging communities’ leadership to end AIDS in Nigeria

|website=The Guardian Nigeria

|publisher=Guardian Newspapers

|date=November 27, 2023

|access-date=4 July 2025

}}</ref>

* "[[Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS|UNAIDS]] advocates equal access to HIV treatments, services." The Guardian [[Nigeria]] (11 July 2023).<ref name="auto5"/>

* "[[Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS|UNAIDS]] advocates equal access to HIV treatments, services." The Guardian [[Nigeria]] (11 July 2023).<ref name="auto5"/>

* [[Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS|UNAIDS]] feature: "[[Nigeria]]’s [[Mpox|Monkeypox]] response gains from [[HIV]] experience." (24 August 2022).<ref name="auto4"/>

* [[Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS|UNAIDS]] feature: "[[Nigeria]]’s [[Mpox|Monkeypox]] response gains from [[HIV]] experience." (24 August 2022).<ref name="auto4"/>

* Punch: "1.6 million of 2 million [[Nigerians]] with [[HIV/AIDS|HIV]] receiving treatment —[[National Agency for the Control of AIDS (Nigeria)|NACA]]." (25 Nov 2024).<ref name="auto6"/>

* “1.6 million Nigerians with HIV on Treatment – NACA.” *Premium Times*, 25 November 2024.<ref>{{cite news

|last=Adebowale‑Tambe

|first=Nike

|title=1.6 million Nigerians with HIV on Treatment – NACA

|newspaper=Premium Times

|date=25 November 2024

|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/756858-1-6-million-nigerians-with-hiv-on-treatment-naca.html

|access-date=4 July 2025

}}</ref>

* NewDawn Nigeria: "To end [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]], protect everyone’s human rights." (1 Dec 2024).<ref name="auto3"/>

* NewDawn Nigeria: "To end [[HIV/AIDS|AIDS]], protect everyone’s human rights." (1 Dec 2024).<ref name="auto3"/>