Tinubu congratulates Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu on election as President of UICC

*President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, a renowned pediatrician with a distinguished career and invaluable services in public health and former First Lady of Kebbi State of Nigeria, on her election as President of the Geneva-based Union for International Cancer Control

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, a renowned paediatrician with a distinguished career in public health and former First Lady of Kebbi State, on her election as the President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).

Tinubu, in a statement, underscored the historic significance of Dr. Shinkafi-Bagudu’s election October 8, 2024, 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 over 1100 member organisations in over 170 countries and territories around the world.

The Nigerian leader noted that her election attests to her competence and character, affirming the enormous talents that abound in Nigeria.

Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Wednesday, October 9 stated President Tinubu described Shinkafi-Bagudu’s ascension in the UICC as a “landmark achievement and a testament to Nigeria’s growing influence in global health leadership.”

The presidential aide noted Tinubu particularly recalled Dr. Shinkafi-Bagudu’s invaluable services to Kebbi State and the country, for which Nigeria is deeply grateful. The President 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.

The statement further indicated Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu founded the Medicaid Cancer Foundation.

She is also a Senior Adviser to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare and Vice-Chairperson 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, Onanuga said.

This initiative, the Federal Government stated, would facilitate the establishment of six cancer centres across the country within two years, to be 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,” noted the statement.