A new non-profit cancer centre has launched an ambitious prevention campaign aimed at reversing the rising number of cancer-related deaths in Nigeria, estimated at over 70,000 annually.

Registered in the United Kingdom, the Ngogbehei Cancer Center (NCC), known as the Marcel Ngogbehei Center for Cancer Education and Care, is focusing on early detection, education, and community-based outreach to address what experts warn is a deepening public health crisis.

Founder of the centre, Innocent Marcel Ngogbehei, a Nigerian health advocate and technology strategist, said the organisation was created to respond to the reality that most Nigerians battling cancer receive a diagnosis only when it is too late.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria records over 125,000 new cancer cases annually, with a mortality rate exceeding 70,000 deaths largely due to late detection, limited access to care, and widespread stigma.

Cervical and breast cancers remain the leading causes of cancer deaths among Nigerian women. Yet, fewer than 20 per cent of women have ever had a clinical breast exam, while routine screenings and HPV vaccinations remain far from widespread.

In response, the Center said it is adopting a grassroots-driven model to improve access to screening and awareness, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

Though registered in the UK to build credibility and attract global partnerships, the centre is headquartered in Nigeria and will coordinate its national efforts from there.

“Registering in the UK opens doors, but the work is in Nigeria in the villages, schools, churches, and marketplaces where cancer awareness is still dangerously low,” Ngogbehei said

He said the centre would be deploying an innovative, grassroots approach designed to reach the most vulnerable populations.

Key initiatives, according to him, include Mobile Cancer Clinics, which come with repurposed ambulances equipped with diagnostic tools to provide on-the-spot screenings in rural and underserved areas.

He said: “Another one is public Education Campaigns, which encompass workshops, school programs, and local community events aimed at demystifying cancer, reducing stigma, and promoting early detection.

“Others are volunteer Training and Support Groups, which involve community-led groups to encourage self-exams, routine checkups, and survivorship support, and Digital Tools, which have to do with mobile applications and digital platforms for self-assessment, booking appointments, and sharing survivor stories.

He disclosed that the center would operate a national coordination hub in Nigeria, working in partnership with local healthcare providers, volunteers, and civil society organizations.

“This is not just a project. It’s a promise to make cancer prevention and care a right, not a privilege, for every Nigerian,” Ngogbehei added.