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Hope has risen for cancer patients in Nigeria as the International Cancer Centre Abuja (ICCA) and Singapore-based Innova Healthcare Nigeria Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a comprehensive oncology centre in Abuja.
The proposed centre, to be located at ICCA’s existing facility on Airport Road, is expected to provide a range of cancer services, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgical oncology, diagnostics, laboratory services and palliative care.
The partnership is aimed at improving access to specialised cancer treatment and reducing the need for Nigerians to travel abroad in search of care.
The organisations said the decision to build on ICCA’s existing facility would speed up the development of the centre while advancing the vision of its founder, Turai Yar’Adua, to make quality cancer care accessible to Nigerians.
In a statement issued by ICCA’s Communications Manager, Arhyel Ayuba, the Memorandum of Understanding was described as a framework for collaboration between the two organisations.
Ayuba said the agreement represented a significant step towards realising the vision of ICCA’s founding fathers and strengthening the centre’s capacity to provide comprehensive cancer services in Abuja.
Director-General of ICCA, Shehu Yar’Adua, said the partnership would help revive and advance the original dream behind the establishment of the centre.
“When our founder first envisioned this centre, she dreamed of a Nigeria where no one would have to travel abroad or go without care altogether to survive a cancer diagnosis,” Yar’Adua said.
“This partnership with Innova brings us a meaningful step closer to that dream, not by starting from scratch, but by building on the foundation she laid.”
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Speaking at the signing ceremony, Managing Director of Innova Healthcare Nigeria, Francis Shokoya, said the company was committed to ensuring that cancer treatment was not only available but also affordable.
He said Innova was motivated to partner with ICCA because of the commitment of its founder to reaching vulnerable Nigerians.
“Before we reached the point of signing this MOU, we were motivated by the values and commitment ICCA’s founder brought to ensuring cancer care is available even to the most vulnerable populations in our country,” Shokoya said.
According to him, the partnership would include the training and capacity-building of Nigerian clinical and technical staff, as well as investment in medical equipment and infrastructure.
The planned centre is also expected to create an integrated treatment pathway for patients by bringing diagnosis, treatment, surgery and palliative care together in one facility.
ICCA was founded in 2009 by Turai Yar’Adua, wife of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, with the vision of establishing a nationwide cancer centre that would provide Nigerians with access to world-class cancer diagnosis and treatment.
The partners said the Abuja project would help close gaps in cancer treatment, strengthen local healthcare capacity and bring hope to patients and families affected by the disease.
Nigeria continues to face major challenges in cancer care, including limited access to radiotherapy, inadequate specialist services, high treatment costs and shortages of trained personnel.
