To make contributions of the private sector to the fight against HIV/AIDS meaningful and result-oriented, its involvement should not be limited to making only cash and kind contributions, it must be actively involved in the planning and resourcing for HIV/AIDS response. Wife of Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun made this assertion in Abeokuta at the inauguration of the State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OGSACA)-private sector forum. Represented by wife of the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mrs. Aishat Olaniyonu, Mrs. Amosun disclosed that the pandemic had become a development issue with its impact being felt by all sectors, particularly the private sector which she described as the highest employer of labour. "Let me reiterate that HIV/AIDS is now a development issue that cuts across multiple sectors of the society. The impact of the pandemic is felt by all sectors in Ogun State, particularly the private sector as the highest employer of labour which faces a great threat of reduction size of an active force,…" Mrs. Amosun said. Mrs. Amosun explained that if a robust intervention was not instituted against the pandemic, there would be far-reaching implications culminating into an increase in the prevalence rate in the State and loss of valuable human resources, leading to a negative socio-economic impact as most productive age group of 15-49 years are the most affected. She called for a public–private sector initiative on HIV/AIDS and other health-related conditions that is multi-sector driven and coordinated with adequate and significant contributions from both the private and public sectors of the economy, adding that external development aid should supplement rather than replace domestic response. ""The establishment of an effective and impact-oriented "Ogun State Private Sector Intervention Fund"(OGPIF) programme is vital to the success of any private sector contribution to the HIV/AIDS response", she said. Also speaking, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka said that there was the need to assume ownership of the HIV/AIDS response through funding by government and the private sector, particularly now that donor agencies are withdrawing. Dr. Soyinka, represented by his Permanent Secretary, Dr. Daisi Odeniyi said in this regard, the private sector should be ready to play more active roles as government alone could not provide all that is needed for an effective response against the pandemic. "We need alternative source of fund to win the battle against HIV/AIDS since government fund alone may be grossly inadequate. We need to have the private sector involved to achieve universal coverage both in HIV counseling and testing and access to drugs," Soyinka said. Also speaking, one of the participants from the private sector, Mr. Ibidapo Temitope of Nigerian Breweries plc, assured that his organisation would be willing to support the forum, disclosing that it had been paying for the treatment of its staff living with the virus, even after they left. Earlier in his welcome address, Director, OGSACA, Dr. Kehinde Fatungase said that the forum was being inaugurated to bring about a private sector-driven funding to assist government in the fight against the disease. Dr. Fatungase explained that the virus affected age group that are active and effective and if left unattended could destroy the workforce of any country. Acknowledging government's efforts, particularly the prompt release of counterpart funds which made it possible for the State to continue drawing from the World Bank fund, the OGSACA boss disclosed that curbing the spread of the disease and attaining zero infection rates could only be achieved with the active support and participation of the private sector.