As an HIV positive student, you have rights on campus. Here is what they are.

If you are a university student living with HIV in Nigeria, you have legal rights. Your HIV status is protected health information. You cannot be expelled, suspended, or discriminated against on the basis of your HIV status. You are entitled to reasonable accommodations if your health requires them. Most students living with HIV in Nigerian universities do not know any of this. That is a problem LUMA is determined to fix.

The HIV and AIDS Anti-Discrimination Act

Nigeria's HIV and AIDS Anti-Discrimination Act of 2014 is clear: no person shall be denied access to education on the grounds of their actual or perceived HIV status. This means a university cannot expel you, refuse your admission, or remove you from a programme because you are living with HIV. Any such action is unlawful.

The Act also protects your right to privacy. Your HIV status is protected health information. No one at your university, including lecturers, hall wardens, or health centre staff, has the right to disclose your HIV status to other students, staff, or the public without your explicit consent.

Medical confidentiality on campus

When you access health services at your university health centre, your records are confidential. This includes HIV testing, treatment, and counselling. Staff at the health centre are bound by professional confidentiality obligations. If your status is ever disclosed without your consent, this is a violation of both your legal rights and professional ethics standards.

In practice, we know confidentiality is not always maintained. Informal disclosure happens. If you experience a breach of confidentiality at your university, document it. Write down what happened, when, and who was involved. This creates a record you can use to make a formal complaint.

What your university should provide

Under Nigeria's 2026 to 2030 National HIV Prevention Plan, universities are expected to provide HIV testing and counselling services, referral pathways to treatment, and support for students living with HIV. In practice, most Nigerian universities do not yet meet this standard. This is the gap LUMA's advocacy work is targeting.

If you are experiencing discrimination at your university based on your HIV status, reach out to LUMA through our anonymous contact option. We can help you understand your options and connect you with support.

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