• Begins AI-enabled screening, diagnosis of cancer
• Signs MoU with Chinese firm on breast cancer treatment

Founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Afe Babalola, yesterday, promised that a cancer treatment centre would be established in Ado-Ekiti to expand access to the early detection and treatment of cancer.

He gave the assurance during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the delegation from the Cherami-PV Group in China at ABUAD campus.

Babalola expressed a puzzle on why cancer does not have a cure, insisting that since nothing is impossible, there must be a cure for the dreaded disease.

He expressed his absolute readiness to collaborate with the Chinese experts by providing funds and other needed logistics to ensure that the diagnosis and treatment of cancer is made possible.

In her welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of ABUAD, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, said that the focus of the partnership, that is, the Breast-Aid initiative, speaks directly to one of Nigeria’s most urgent public health concerns.

According to her, breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women in the country, with far too many cases presenting at advanced stages, noting that late detection continues to cost lives, families, and communities.

“This reality compels us to seek smarter, scalable, and ethically sound solutions.

“Through this collaboration with Cherami-PV, ABUAD is embracing the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled breast imaging to strengthen early detection, improve diagnostic accuracy, and expand access to quality screening. Importantly, this initiative recognises that technology does not replace human expertise; rather, it supports clinicians in making better, faster, and safer decisions.”

Also speaking at the event, the Chief Medical Director of ABUAD Multi System Hospital, Dr Akinola Akinmade, explained that the partnership with the Cherami group would be based on collaboration.

In his remark, the leader of the Chinese delegation and the co-founder of Cherami Investment, Prof. Wei Xiaoline, who echoed Babalola’s belief that nothing is impossible, expressed confidence that the vision behind the partnership would be achieved.