President Bola Tinubu has congratulated paediatrician and former Kebbi State first lady Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu on her election as president of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).
Shinkafi-Bagudu was elected on October 8 as the first African and the fifth woman to lead the global cancer control organisation.
President Tinubu noted in a statement on Wednesday by his spokesman Bayo Onanuga that her election attests to her competence and character and affirmed the enormous talents that abound in Nigeria.
Tinubu described Shinkafi-Bagudu’s ascension in the organisation as a landmark achievement and a testament to Nigeria’s growing influence in global health leadership.
He recalled her services to Kebbi State and the country, for which Nigeria is deeply grateful. He also lauded her stewardship as chairperson of the First Ladies Cancer Initiative and her contributions to establishing the Kebbi State Strategic Plan for Cancer Control during her tenure as the first lady of Kebbi State.
Shinkafi-Bagudu founded the Medicaid Cancer Foundation. She is also a senior advisor to the coordinating minister of health and social welfare and vice chair of Nigeria’s national taskforce on cervical cancer elimination.
Mr Onanuga noted that through the Federal Ministry of Health and international partnerships, Nigeria has successfully vaccinated 12 million girls against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a leading cause of cervical cancer.
According to him, the Tinubu administration has allocated N37.4 billion to the Federal Ministry of Health’s oncology initiative.
Onanuga said this initiative will facilitate the establishment of six cancer centres across the country within two years, located in teaching hospitals in Benin, Zaria, Katsina, Enugu, Jos and Lagos.
“President Tinubu expresses confidence in Dr. Shinkafi-Bagudu’s ability to use her new office and leadership to improve cancer control and global health,” the statement added.
