The Nanahfatimah Amele Bamigbetan Oncology Foundation (NABOF) was officially launched, yesterday, at the Lagos State College of Medicine, Ikeja, with a mission to combat the growing burden of cancer in Nigeria through research, education, and policy engagement.

The Foundation, established in memory of the late wife of former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kehinde Bamigbetan, aims to provide support for Oncology students, fund groundbreaking cancer research, and foster collaborations between scientists and policymakers.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr Omolara Fatiregun, a renowned clinical oncologist, unveiled the Foundation, describing it as a vital platform to bridge the gap between medical science and policy formulation in the fight against cancer.

She added that the Foundation would partner with top academic institutions, both locally and internationally, to provide scholarships and fund research for medical students, particularly in the field of Oncology.

Fatiregun emphasised that with adequate investment, cancer treatment in Nigeria could soon rely more on medication and advanced therapies rather than surgery, which remains the dominant method today.

Managing Director of Africa Emerging Trustees, the managers of the Foundation, Mrs Felicia Sonubi, praised the initiative and urged more donors to support cancer research and knowledge.

She said the firm had put in place a board of trustees and financial management plan to sustain the Foundation. Kehinde Bamigbetan , while speaking during the event, disclosed that the Foundation had secured an initial N10 million to kick-start its operations. He appealed to well-meaning individuals, corporate organisations, and government bodies to support the project.

“One way to fight this disease is by investing in research and building a knowledge base, and that’s what this Foundation is set to do,” he said.
Bamigbetan added that he had taken time to put the right structure in place to ensure competent individuals drive the Foundation’s mission effectively.

Meanwhile, the event’s emotional highlight was the screening of a montage celebrating the life and legacy of the late Nanafatimah Amele Bamigbetan.