On Saturday, October 25th, 2025, the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) joined advocates and supporters of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation for the 11th anniversary of the #WALKAWAYCANCER campaign.
The event, led by Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, wife of the Honourable Minister for Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, brought together public officials, researchers, and health advocates to raise awareness about cancer prevention and control in Nigeria.
NISER’s Director-General, Prof. Antonia Simbine, represented the Institute at the walk, reaffirming NISER’s commitment to evidence-based policy research that contributes to public health and national development. Dr. Bagudu, who currently serves as President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) (2024–2026), continues to lead global and national efforts to reduce the burden of cancer through advocacy, early detection, and improved access to care. UICC is the world’s oldest and largest membership organization dedicated to coordinated global action against cancer.
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization [1]. In Nigeria alone, estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) suggest there were over 127,763 new cancer cases and nearly 80,000 deaths by 2022 [2]. Breast, cervical, and prostate cancers remain the most common, and late detection continues to be a major challenge.
A recent story shared by CNN’s Christiane Amanpour [3], who spoke candidly about her ongoing battle with ovarian cancer, underscores the importance of early detection and proactive health checks. Her message, that “early diagnosis saves lives,” resonates strongly with campaigns like #WalkAwayCancer.
As NISER joins the call to action, the Institute emphasizes the need for stronger research-policy linkages, public health education, and investment in preventive healthcare systems to address Nigeria’s growing cancer burden.
Further Reading
[1] World Health Organization (2025) Cancer: Fact Sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer
[2] International Agency for Research on Cancer (2025) Nigeria Fact Sheet. Global Cancer Observatory. https://gco.iarc.who.int/media/globocan/factsheets/populations/566-nigeria-fact-sheet.pdf
[3] CNN host Christiane Amanpour battling cancer again and urges people to ‘listen to their bodies’ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/christiane-amanpour-cnn-ovarian-cancer-b2851561.html