The wife of the Anambra State Governor, Nonye Soludo, has urged Nigerians to treat one another with dignity, respect, and compassion, regardless of differences in beliefs, social class, creed, or physical condition.
She made the call on Sunday in a statement issued in Awka to commemorate the 2026 Zero Discrimination Day, observed globally every March 1 under the coordination of UNAIDS.
The Anambra First Lady stressed that genuine love transcends differences and that respect remains the foundation of human dignity, adding that discrimination undermines social harmony and progress.
“True love sees no differences, only hearts filled with compassion and a genuine desire to make others feel valued and respected,” she said.
She added, “Respect is the soul of human dignity. Discrimination, on the other hand, is a language of barbarism and hate. We must always strive to treat people with dignity, irrespective of their beliefs, class, creed, or physical conditions. That is how we build a better society.”
Soludo, who also founded the Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative, emphasised the need for individuals and institutions to reject all forms of discrimination and promote inclusion across communities.
Highlighting the 2026 theme, “People first: Everyone can help by sustaining what works,” she explained that the focus is on prioritising human lives, especially those affected by HIV, and ensuring they are treated with fairness, empathy, and respect.
She noted that the theme calls on governments, healthcare providers, employers, communities, and individuals to listen to and support people living with or affected by HIV, ensuring that stigma and prejudice do not hinder access to healthcare services.
According to UNAIDS, Zero Discrimination Day draws attention to the persistent discrimination faced by people living with or vulnerable to HIV, which continues to limit access to testing, treatment, and care, while also violating basic human rights.
The global body added that ending stigma and discrimination remains critical to achieving the target of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Soludo urged Nigerians to embrace empathy, tolerance, and unity, stressing that collective efforts are required to foster an inclusive society where every individual feels respected and valued.
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