Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has donated N1 billion to the National Cancer Fund in a major push to eliminate cervical cancer in the country.
The donation, made through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), was announced during a courtesy visit by the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination, led by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako.
Speaking at the event, Senator Tinubu urged Nigerians, especially women, to speak up and seek medical assistance when facing health challenges, emphasizing that illness is not a choice and there should be no shame in seeking help.
“I support what you are doing. The approach—test, screen, vaccinate, and treat—is the right path. A healthy nation is a wealthy nation,” she said.
She further aligned the donation with the theme of World Health Day 2025, “Healthy Beginnings; Hopeful Future,” noting that timely detection and intervention are crucial in defeating cancer.
“No matter a nation’s wealth, if the majority of its people are sick, that nation is poor in reality,” she added.
In response, Dr Salako commended the First Lady for her commitment to public health, highlighting her pivotal role in the rollout of the HPV vaccine in Nigeria. He noted that since its introduction, 12 million girls aged 9 to 13 have been immunized, with another 6 million targeted this year.
Former Minister of Health and Chairman of the Taskforce, Prof. Isaac Adewole, praised the First Lady’s “uncommon political will” and support in launching the HPV vaccine into the country’s routine immunisation programme.
He emphasized the goal of reaching 8 million girls annually to eliminate cervical cancer in Nigeria by 2030, urging her to continue championing the campaign across 12 states this year and another 12 in 2026.
WHO Country Representative, Dr Walter Mulombo, also appealed to the First Lady to lead the national campaign, stressing that every woman and child has the right to life and health.
The visit coincided with World Health Day 2025, during which Senator Tinubu was presented with souvenirs from the World Health Organisation (WHO) in appreciation of her health advocacy efforts.
