The Director-General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, has inaugurated the Planning Committee for the 2026 International Cancer Week (ICW), charging members to leverage their expertise and experience to ensure the success of the event.
The committee was formally inaugurated during a virtual meeting.
A Professor of Surgery at the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu, Prof. Emmanuel R. Ezeome, was appointed Chairman of the committee.
Prof. Ezeome, a renowned Surgical Oncologist and Head of the General Surgery Division at UNTH, will lead the multi-sectoral team responsible for planning and coordinating activities for the annual cancer awareness and advocacy event.
Speaking during the inauguration, Prof. Malami urged committee members to demonstrate commitment and dedication in delivering on the objectives of the International Cancer Week initiative.
He emphasized that the committee was deliberately constituted with representatives from various sectors, reflecting the understanding that addressing the growing burden of cancer requires a collaborative and coordinated approach.
According to him, no single institution can effectively tackle the cancer challenge alone, making partnership and collective action critical to achieving meaningful progress.
The NICRAT Director-General called on members to move beyond declarations and bring their wealth of knowledge, skills, and professional experience to bear in developing practical and sustainable solutions to cancer-related challenges in Nigeria.
He also commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, for their continued support to NICRAT and its efforts to advance the healthcare objectives of the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Prof. Malami congratulated members of the committee on their appointment and expressed confidence in their ability to deliver a successful and impactful International Cancer Week in 2026.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Prof. Ezeome thanked NICRAT for the confidence reposed in the members and pledged their commitment to the assignment.
He assured that the committee would engage actively and work collectively to achieve its mandate, noting that members possess the experience and expertise required to deliver outstanding results.
“It will be a period of serious engagement for all members of the committee,” he said, adding that the committee is determined to elevate the profile and impact of the International Cancer Week.
According to him, the committee aims to ensure that the 2026 edition of the event reaches new heights and delivers measurable benefits to society through increased awareness, stakeholder engagement, and strengthened cancer control efforts.
The International Cancer Week is an annual platform that brings together policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, development partners, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders in the cancer ecosystem to review progress, share innovations, discuss challenges, and explore strategies for reducing the cancer burden in Nigeria and across Africa.
The event also provides an opportunity for the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and NICRAT to showcase policies, programmes, workforce development initiatives, funding opportunities, and strategic interventions designed to strengthen cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and research across the country.