The First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC) initiative has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT) and global pharmaceutical company Roche, formalising partnerships aimed at strengthening cancer research, treatment and advocacy across Nigeria.
The agreement was unveiled on Friday during a ceremony in Lagos while on Saturday the group launched the Friends of FLAC (FOFLAC) network and inducted 19 new members drawn from Nigeria’s business, entertainment, traditional and faith communities.
The event also saw the election of new FLAC leadership, with Barrister Chioma Uzodimma, First Lady of Imo State, emerging as the new Chairperson of the organisation. She succeeds Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, former Kebbi State First Lady, who has led the coalition for the past four years.
Founded to harness the collective voices of current and former Nigerian state governors’ wives in the fight against cancer, FLAC has grown over the past decade into a driving force in cancer awareness, patient support and policy advocacy.
Under Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu’s tenure, the group expanded its focus from breast cancer to cervical, childhood and prostate cancers, reaching more than 625,000 women with education and awareness campaigns nationwide.
‘We want to ensure that the work FLAC does is sustainable, continues to be evidence-based, and supports progress in cancer control to ease the burden on patients’, she said.
She noted that signing the MoU with NICRAT would bolster collaboration on data-driven approaches and policy advocacy, while sustaining partnerships built over the years with stakeholders like Roche.
The outgoing chairperson also confirmed that the First Lady of Adamawa State, Hajiya Finitri would serve as Vice Chairperson of FLAC.
Pioneer FLAC chairperson, Dr Amina Bello, former First Lady of Niger State, underscored the group’s impact over the past 10 years, highlighting how collaborative efforts with partners like Roche have helped bring cancer awareness and treatment options to thousands of families.
Roche Nigeria’s General Manager, Ladi Hameed, praised the growing involvement of the government in cancer care, including the establishment of NICRAT, the Cancer Health Fund, and the National Cancer Access Programme.
He credited FLAC’s persistent advocacy for raising awareness not just at the grassroots but also among policymakers.
‘With this MoU, these relationships are being formalized, and FLAC’s advocacy will combine with NICRAT’s central coordination to strengthen diagnosis, awareness, and care’, Hameed said.
NICRAT Director General, Dr Usman Malami Aliyu, emphasised that ‘Cancer treatment itself is team-bound in the hospital, and it must be the same outside’.
He described FLAC’s reach in Nigeria’s 36 states as key to reducing cancer mortality nationwide.
In her acceptance speech, the new chairperson, Barrister Chioma Uzodimma, said she was honoured by the confidence placed in her and pledged to build on FLAC’s achievements.
‘We will continue to work together to deepen awareness, strengthen advocacy, and improve policy so that no Nigerian family has to face the burden of cancer alone’, she said, adding ‘Together, we can make a difference and bring hope to countless lives’.
Former Ogun State First Lady, Olufunso Amosun, said Uzodimma represents a dynamic new generation of leadership. ‘We believe she will bring new trends, diligence, and intelligence to FLAC’, she said.
FLAC continued its activities on Saturday, 28 June, with a closed-door fundraising dinner and special event honouring cancer survivors and supporting at least two cancer support organizations. The event also marked June as Cancer Survivors Month.
It also launched the Friends of FLAC (FOFLAC) network and inducted 19 new members drawn from Nigeria’s business, entertainment, traditional and faith communities.
Notable figures inducted as Friends of FLAC include veteran actress Joke Silva; Pastor Ituah Ighodalo; cancer advocate Farooq Oreagba; Oba Saheed Ademola Elegushi; popular medical influencer Aproko Doctor; and former Chairman of Firstbank Ibukun Awosika, among others.
The dinner also featured a fireside chat with cancer warriors themed ‘From Scars to Stars’, where survivors including Renee Singh, Farooq Oreagba, Tolulope Popoola, Jumai Irene Enoned, and Abigail Simon Hart shared powerful stories of hope and resilience.
FLAC presented a cheque of N10 million to support cancer survivors, underscoring its commitment to easing the burden on patients and their families. Additional donations to the cause were announced by the Dangote Foundation and the Mainstream Foundation, represented by the Managing Director of Mainstream Energy Solutions, Siriyo Abdullahi.
