NICRAT DG Declares Open National Cancer Biobank Network Workshop

The Director General of the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Prof. Usman Malami Aliyu, on Thursday, October 22, 2026, declared open the National Cancer Biobank Network (NCBN) workshop, in Abuja.

The workshop which was organised by NICRAT in partnership with BioVana Research, brought together oncology experts from different states of the federation.

Speaking while declaring the workshop open, Prof. Malami emphasised the importance of establishing a national biobank network to strengthen Nigeria’s cancer research capacity and improve cancer care.

The engagement, he noted, marked another important step towards strengthening collaboration, research capacity, and a coordinated national approach to cancer control in Nigeria.

Prof. Malami explained that cancer care is increasingly moving towards precision oncology, where, according to him, treatment is guided by the biological characteristics of each tumour.

He, however, lamented that: “People of African ancestry remain underrepresented in global cancer research. Consequently, many of the medicines, diagnostic tools and treatment guidelines we rely on are informed by evidence from other populations.

“If Nigeria is to fully benefit from precision oncology, we must generate our own evidence, from Nigerian patients, for Nigerian patients. The National Cancer Biobank Network is a critical step towards achieving this ambition.”

He disclosed that: “Biobanks collect, process and preserve tissue, blood and associated data according to established quality standards, creating trusted resources for research, clinical trials, genomic studies and improved cancer care.

“In line with our mandate, NICRAT, in partnership with BioVana, is establishing this national network, bringing together eight centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. This initiative represents an important investment in our national research capacity and the future of cancer control.

“Our task over the course of this workshop is to establish a common understanding and clear commitments across five critical pillars: governance, quality standards, ethical safeguards, data management and sustainable financing.”

The NICRAT Director General applauded the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government for the consistent support to the Institute, enabling it to achieve huge success in the fight against cancer within a little over three years of its establishment.

In addition, he expressed gratitude to the leadership of the health ministry- Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate and Minister of State, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, acknowledging their steady support and encouragement in the fight against cancer in Nigeria.

He commended BioVana and its Chief Executive Officers, Estelle Dogbo and Dr. Jumi Poopola, for what he described as their technical partnership and commitment to this initiative.

“I also acknowledge Dr. Zisis Kozlakidis of IARC/WHO and Dr. Stella Somiari of International Society of Biological and Environmental Repositories (ISBER) for bringing their expertise to this important undertaking. I also appreciate our facilitators and the NICRAT team for their leadership and commitment to making this workshop possible,” Prof. Malami stressed.