By Johnbosco Agbakwuru
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on all Nigerians to unite and wage a relentless fight against cancer.
The First Lady made the call in her message marking World Cancer Day 2026, with the theme “United by Unique.”
Declaring that “every cancer journey is different, yet our hope is shared,” Mrs. Tinubu urged the nation to center care around individual stories.
She emphasized building a compassionate response through prevention, early detection, access to quality treatment, and ongoing support.
According to her: “By listening to individual stories and placing people at the centre of care, we can build a stronger, more compassionate response to cancer, one rooted in prevention, early detection, access to quality treatment, and sustained support.
“Together, by uniting our voices and actions, we can move closer to a cancer-free future for all,” she declared, in a statement that resonates amid rising cancer cases across Nigeria.”
World Cancer Day, observed annually on February 4, is a global initiative led by the Union for International Cancer Control, UICC, to raise awareness, prevent cancer, and ensure equitable access to treatment.
The 2026 theme highlighted personalized care amid diverse patient experiences. In Nigeria, cancer burdens over 125,000 new cases yearly, per WHO data, with breast, cervical, prostate, and colorectal cancers leading.
Late diagnoses, limited screening, and treatment gaps exacerbate mortality, especially in rural areas. Mrs. Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative has championed cancer awareness, funded screenings, and advocated for policy reforms.
Recent efforts include partnerships with NGOs for mobile clinics and calls for increased health budgets—steps that align with her urgent plea for unity today.
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