The First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC) initiative has called for policy reforms that will institutionalise cancer screening within states’ health systems, ensure dedicated budgetary provisions for cancer registries, and improve access to cancer care across Nigeria.
The group also urged Nigerians to adopt healthier lifestyles, noting that up to 40 per cent of cancers can be prevented through lifestyle modification. It further appealed for increased government investment in cancer control.
Chairperson of FLAC and wife of the Imo State Governor, Chioma Uzodinma, made the call at the Summer School organised by the Nigerian Oncology Research Alliance (NORA) in collaboration with the African Cancer Registry Network (AFRCRN), the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), and the International Research Centre of Excellence of the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) in Abuja.
Uzodinma described cancer statistics in Africa as “sobering,” noting that sub-Saharan Africa recorded over 127,000 new cases and 79,000 deaths in 2016.
“Each number represents a mother, a father, a child — a life deferred or destroyed,” she said.
She stressed the need to ensure that no Nigerian suffers or dies from preventable or treatable cancer, adding that FLAC is focused on improving awareness, access to screening and treatment, and policies that guarantee quality care nationwide.
According to her, many Nigerians still present with late-stage cancer due to poor access to early detection services. She said survivors who received timely diagnosis and treatment continue to inspire others and demonstrate the value of early intervention.
Uzodinma called for a rethinking of women’s health priorities in line with Nigeria’s National Cancer Control Plan (2023–2027), which emphasises early detection and reduced cancer burden.
She highlighted FLAC’s partnerships with the World Health Organization (WHO), Clinton Health Access Initiative, Roche, and the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), through which the coalition has reached more than 625,000 women with prevention education and screened thousands for cancer.
“Our First Ladies have led screening initiatives that have reached 10,000 women in communities across northern and southern Nigeria,” she said.
Through state-level foundations and programmes, Uzodinma added, FLAC has provided free breast and cervical cancer screenings, funded surgeries for indigent patients, and supported treatments for those unable to afford care.
She further urged researchers and policymakers to translate findings into scalable interventions that save lives and to build an “evidence ecosystem” where research and advocacy reinforce each other.
Also speaking, Minister of State for Health, Dr Adekunle Salako, called for collective action to strengthen cancer surveillance, promote data-driven policy, and expand equitable access to cancer care nationwide.
He described cancer registries as “the heartbeat of evidence-based control,” essential for understanding disease burden, guiding prevention strategies, and ensuring that no community is left behind. “Without robust data, we cannot design sustainable solutions or measure progress effectively,” Salako said.
He explained that the Federal Government is implementing a national research and innovation agenda prioritising data integration, digital transformation, and cross-sector collaboration.
Through partnerships such as NORA and AFRCRN, Salako said, Nigeria is moving closer to a future where every citizen, regardless of location or socioeconomic status, can benefit from timely detection, diagnosis, and care informed by real data.
The minister commended NORA and AFRCRN for their commitment to capacity building, data harmonisation, and regional collaboration, noting that the government has strengthened the National Cancer Registry Network and remains committed to policies that make cancer control a moral and scientific priority.
Director-General of NICRAT, Prof. Usman Aliyu, said NORA’s projects are actively involved in cancer screening, prevention, and research to address the growing burden of cancer in sub-Saharan Africa.
He said NICRAT was established to provide leadership in cancer research, prevention, and treatment in Nigeria, adding that it has helped establish new population-based cancer registries and conducted basic registry training to ensure efficient data management.
Aliyu emphasised the need for stronger collaboration, capacity building, and networking among health professionals to improve outcomes and align Nigeria’s cancer registration system with global best practices.
