The newly sworn-in President of the Nigeria Cancer Society (NCS), Prof. Abidemi Omonisi, on Monday, January 13, 2025, visited the Director General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, in his office, in Abuja.

This is a follow up of the earlier visit last week led by the former President of NCS, Dr. Adamu Alhassan, when he formally introduced the new president to the NICRAT DG.

While unveiling his 2-year agenda for the NCS, Prof. Omonisi said that the Society will participate actively in the fight against cancer in the country to ensure that NICRAT achieves its mandate by reducing the incidences of cancer to the barest minimum in the country.

He applauded the NICRAT DG for taking the Institute to an enviable height within a short time despite the challenges it encountered in its early stage.

Prof. Omonisi commended NICRAT for working hard to expand the Nigeria Cancer Health Fund (CHF), and therefore, urged that the fund be further expanded to ensure that cancer patients in all states of the country benefit.

He also advocated for the proper coordination of all cancer related activities among agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the country, insisting that all conflicting areas should be harmonized for the good of all Nigerians.

Speaking, the Director General of NICRAT, Prof. Malami vowed to support and work closely with the NCS leadership in order to improve the current cancer status in the country.

He reiterated the readiness of NICRAT to partner with all experts and other relevant stakeholders in the cancer space in the country.

Prof. Malami called on the experts and stakeholders to offer progressive advice and suggestions to the Institute to enable it serve Nigerians better. “We are open to suggestions and advice,” the DG stressed.

The major highlight of the visit was the decoration of the NICRAT Director General as NCS Ambassador.