Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, the Nigerian paediatrician and founder of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation, has assumed office as President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) for the 2026 to 2028 term, becoming the first African and the first Nigerian to lead the global cancer organisation since it was founded in 1933. She took over at the UICC General Assembly on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, succeeding Ulrika Årehed Kågström of Sweden, while India’s Dr C S Pramesh was elected President-elect for the same term. Her election as President-elect in October 2024 set the stage for the hand-over, and she now becomes the fifth woman to head the Geneva-based body.
The Nigerian Cancer Society, in a statement signed by its President and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Abidemi Omonisi, described the development as a landmark achievement for Nigeria, the African continent and the global cancer community. It said her presidency gives Africa a stronger voice in global cancer policy and a chance to push for a system in which access to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and supportive care does not depend on a patient’s income or location, especially in low and middle income countries. The society added that the milestone should also prompt governments, healthcare institutions, development partners and advocacy groups to act.
Her path to the role runs through years of work in cancer awareness, patient support and policy advocacy in Nigeria. As First Lady of Kebbi State from 2015 to 2023, she rallied other First Ladies behind fairer cancer care across the country, and she has also served as Chairperson of the First Ladies Cancer Initiative. When she accepted her election in 2024, she promised to lead in an interactive way and to draw on the experiences, insights and energy of UICC members.
In her first statement as President, she reflected on discussions at the World Cancer Congress in Hong Kong, where she spoke about the rising demand for cancer care, the financial burden of treatment and the difficulties families face in reaching essential healthcare. Her presidency is expected to focus on turning international commitments into practical improvements in cancer prevention and care, with international cooperation, equitable access and measurable progress at the centre of the organisation’s priorities.
