The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has donated N1 billion to the National Cancer Fund through her Renewed Hope Initiative to boost the agency’s fight against cervical cancer.
Senator Tinubu made the announcement at the State House, Abuja during a courtesy visit by the National Taskforce on Cervical Cancer Elimination led by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Adekunle Salako.
Senator Tinubu urged Nigerian women to shun stigma and prioritize their health by seeking medical help early.
She said, “No one chooses illness. There’s no shame in seeking help. A healthy nation is a wealthy nation” while restating her commitment to health advocacy for women and children.
She commended the Taskforce’s holistic approach – testing, screening, vaccinating, and treatment, pledging her continued support in advancing the nation’s healthcare goals.
The First Lady’s donation has been seen as a major boost to national efforts, following the introduction of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into the country’s routine immunization schedule.
According to Salako, over 12 million girls aged 9 – 13 have already been vaccinated within the first nine months of the rollout, noting that the ministry aimed to immunize another 6 million girls in 2025.
The Chairman of the Taskforce and former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole applauded Senator Tinubu’s gesture, unwavering political will and advocacy.
Adewole noted that with sustained effort, the “8 by 8” target—immunizing eight million girls annually, could be achieved, paving the way for the elimination of cervical cancer by 2030.
World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative, Dr. Walter Mulombo, also appealed to the First Lady to spearhead the national campaign, noting that her influence could galvanize support and save countless lives.
