President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the former First Lady of Kebbi State, Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, on her election as the President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).

Tinubu, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, said Shinkafi-Bagudu’s election attested to her competence and character and affirmed the enormous talents that abound in Nigeria.

The president also described Shinkafi-Bagudu’s ascension in the organisation as a landmark achievement and a testament to Nigeria’s growing influence in global health leadership.

Shinkafi-Bagudu, a renowned paediatrician, was elected as UICC President on Tuesday, October 8, as the first African and the fifth woman to lead the global cancer control organisation.

The Geneva-based UICC was founded in 1933 and has more than 1,100 member organisations in over 170 countries.

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Tinubu, who recalled Shinkafi-Bagudu’s services to Kebbi State and Nigeria, lauded her stewardship as the 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.

President Tinubu further expressed confidence in Shinkafi-Bagudu’s ability to use her new office and leadership to improve cancer control and global health.

Onanuga added: “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.

“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.

“The administration has allocated N37.4 billion to the Federal Ministry of Health’s Oncology Initiative.

“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.”

The Star