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Ifeoma Okoye: Honoring a Trailblazer – Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu’s Journey to Global Cancer Leadership

Ifeoma Okoye/LinkedIn

Jun 9, 2025, 08:43

Ifeoma Okoye: Honoring a Trailblazer – Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu’s Journey to Global Cancer Leadership

Ifeoma Okoye, Director of The University of Nigeria, Center For Clinical Trials, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“I paid homage to whom homage is due yesterday, to my longterm friend, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, President-Elect, Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), to felicitate with her, on the Sallah celebrations, and eat my own ram! It was a great communion!
Honestly, as I left, I went into relection on the life journey of this remarkable lady, and felt led to celebrate her, as she prepares to take on one of the highest global health leadership roles—President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), in a year’s time –2026.
I congratulate you on this historic milestone which is a powerful affirmation of your tireless advocacy, strategic foresight, and unwavering commitment to global cancer control.

As a trained paediatrician, respected global health advisor, and visionary founder of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation, your journey has embodied the fusion of clinical insight, grassroots mobilization, and policy-level leadership. With over 17 years leading one of Nigeria’s most impactful nonprofit cancer organizations and serving on national and international steering committees, including the WHO-led Global Breast Cancer Initiative and National Cervical Cancer Committee, your experiential toolkit is not only robust—it is deeply rooted in real-world transformation.

As you prepare to take the mantle of UICC leadership in the coming year, we offer this heartfelt word of encouragement and a few strategic considerations:

Build inclusive platforms that prioritize equitable funding, research, and access for low- and middle-income countries, ensuring that no population is left behind.

Forge Multisectoral Alliances:

Leverage your influence among First Ladies, Ministries of Health, private sector, and international partners, to create cross-cutting alliances! that drive impact at scale—especially for women’s and pediatric cancers.

Digital and Decentralized Cancer Solutions:

Champion scalable models like decentralized screening, telepathology, and mobile diagnostics—fields in which your experience with Medicaid Radio-diagnostics is particularly invaluable.

Mobilize the Next Generation:

Through your proven youth engagement model, extend global youth participation in cancer continuum!!

Global South Advocacy:

As UICC President, be the unapologetic voice advocating for LMIC-tailored HTA frameworks, technology transfer, and regulatory harmonization!

Your impending presidency is a divine assignment to reimagine equity in cancer care. With your deep roots in compassionate care, your unmatched policy savvy, and your courageous voice for the underserved, we pray, your tenure will be marked by bold reforms, human-centered innovation, and multigenerational impact.

We stand with you in prayer, partnership, and action. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu.”