By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government has inaugurated the Blood Cancer Consortium as an important platform for advancing knowledge, collaboration and improved outcomes in the management of blood cancers in Nigeria.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, inaugurated the consortium in Abuja while receiving members of the Global Advisory Council of the National Cancer Control Plan Technical Working Group.
Salako reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring that partnerships established through the National Cancer Control Plan (NCCP) translate into tangible benefits for Nigerians and contribute to global efforts to combat cancer.
He said the Federal Government had placed partnerships at the centre of the implementation of the NCCP 2026–2030, stressing that international expertise and collaboration would be critical to achieving sustainable progress in cancer control.
The minister said cancer remained a major global health challenge, with the burden particularly severe in Africa due to late presentation, high mortality, limited infrastructure, inadequate manpower and constrained resources.
He said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had continued to prioritise cancer prevention through the inclusion of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in the routine immunisation schedule, expansion of cervical cancer screening, improved public awareness and integration of screening services into primary healthcare.
“Prevention is better and cheaper than cure. We are doing everything we can to expand immunisation, improve screening and ensure that cancer is detected at a very early stage,” Salako said.
Salako disclosed that the Federal Government had commenced construction of six cancer centres of excellence, with three already completed and the remaining three at various stages of development.
He added that President Tinubu had approved the procurement of 35 additional linear accelerators between 2027 and 2029 to expand access to radiotherapy services and strengthen Nigeria’s cancer treatment capacity.
The minister commended members of the Global Advisory Council and the Technical Working Group for their commitment, expertise, networks and resources in supporting Nigeria’s cancer control agenda.
He also appreciated the council for its support to Nigeria’s pathology laboratories, assuring that donated equipment would be deployed effectively to improve diagnostic services.
Salako urged the council and the Technical Working Group to continue building wider partnerships and mobilising expertise and resources from across the world to support Nigeria’s cancer control efforts.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom S., mni, expressed delight at the visit and expressed hope that the engagement would be beneficial to Nigerians.
In her response, the Chairman of the National Cancer Control Plan Technical Working Group, Prof. Folakemi Odedina, who led the delegation, appreciated the ministry for its confidence in and support for the Technical Working Group.
Odedina said the initiative had brought together Nigerian experts at home and in the diaspora, government, academia, healthcare providers, patients, advocates, industry and international partners around a common national vision for cancer control.
She assured that the council would work with NCCP subcommittees, geopolitical zones, integration hubs and national institutions to accelerate measurable progress towards the 2030 cancer control targets.
Odedina disclosed that the NCCP Technical Working Group had become operational, with implementation of structures established under a coordinated national framework.
She said the NCCP was also laying the foundation for a stronger national oncology clinical trials ecosystem that would develop Nigerian investigators, strengthen trial-ready institutions, expand patients’ access to clinical trials and position Nigeria as a major contributor to cancer research in Africa and globally.
She further announced a new model of strategic institutional partnership between Nigeria and leading global cancer institutions, including the University of Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Fox Chase Cancer Center and Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center.
READ ALSO: NOHIL, Steps2Walk, GHCTF Begin Foot and Ankle Surgical Training, Free Medical Outreach
“Together, we can change the trajectory of cancer in Nigeria,” she said.
The meeting concluded with the ceremonial signing of a strategic partnership between the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, NCCP Technical Working Group and members of the Global Advisory Council.
About The Author
