Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, MD, is a distinguished pediatrician, global health advocate, and leading voice in cancer control across Africa. She currently serves as Chairperson of First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC), Senior Adviser on Women’s Health and Cancer Advocacy to the Coordinating Minister of Health of Nigeria, and a Board Member of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), where she is serving her third term.
A pioneering figure in Nigerian healthcare, Dr. Bagudu is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Medicaid Radio-Diagnostics & Clinics, the first comprehensive diagnostic center in Abuja, established in 2008 to bridge the gap in advanced medical imaging and diagnostic services. Recognizing the urgent need for cancer prevention and treatment, she went on to establish the Medicaid Cancer Foundation (MCF) in 2009—a nonprofit organization that has since raised over $2.4 million and implemented more than 50 initiatives aimed at improving cancer awareness, screening, early detection, and access to treatment for underserved populations. Through MCF, more than 4,000 patients have received subsidized chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and palliative care.
As the former First Lady of Kebbi State (2015–2023), Dr. Bagudu leveraged her position to drive transformative health policies, including the state’s comprehensive cancer control plan and the expansion of HPV vaccination programs for young girls. Her leadership catalyzed widespread awareness about cancer prevention, women’s health, and child welfare throughout Nigeria.
Internationally, Dr. Bagudu’s influence extends through her roles in global organizations such as the Global Initiative Against HPV and Cervical Cancer (GIAHC), where she serves as an Advisory Council Member, and the World Health Organization’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative. She co-chairs the Cervical Cancer Technical Working Group of Nigeria and is an active member of multiple national steering and policy committees, including the National Cancer Control Plan Steering Committee, the Coalition Against HPV Community, and the Health Fund Technical Group.
Dr. Bagudu’s efforts in health advocacy have been instrumental in integrating public-private partnerships into national cancer programs and promoting gender-inclusive leadership in global oncology. Her commitment to mentorship is reflected in her work empowering nursing students in Northern Nigeria and young women in healthcare to build careers in advocacy and medicine.
Her visionary leadership has earned her international recognition as a driving force for equitable healthcare access in low- and middle-income countries. Through her advocacy, research engagement, and philanthropy, she continues to transform lives—championing early detection, equitable treatment, and community-based cancer control across Africa and beyond.
She is a Member of the Editorial Board of OncoDaily.