The Lagos State Government, through the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, has canvassed support for cancer survivors.
This was conveyed by the Atinuke Cancer Foundation on Saturday, to mark National Cancer Survivors Day, honouring the courage and resilience of cancer survivors in Nigeria and around the world.
Held in Lagos, the event drew medical professionals, government officials, global advocates, and cancer survivors who gathered to celebrate life beyond cancer and push for greater support in cancer care.
The theme of this year’s event, “Life After Cancer – Hope, Celebrating Strength and Survivorship,” set the tone for the day, with stories of survival, advocacy, and renewed purpose relayed.
Ogunyemi applauded the foundation’s contributions to public health.
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing early detection, improving treatment, and supporting survivorship through stronger partnerships.
The wife of the former Kebbi State Governor and President-elect of the Union for International Cancer Control, Dr Zainab Bagudu, commended the Atinuke Cancer Foundation for its work in awareness creation, patient support, and championing cancer survivorship across Nigeria.
The President of the Nigerian Cancer Society, Prof Abidemi Omonisi, echoed the sentiments, lauding the foundation’s leadership and urging greater collaboration within Nigeria’s cancer ecosystem.
One of the event’s highlights was a panel session featuring seven global cancer thrivers—survivors who had turned their experiences into platforms for education, advocacy, and empowerment.
The host of the event, Founder of the Atinuke Cancer Foundation, and a 10-year breast cancer survivor, Tinu Lawal-Sanusi, said,
This day is about hope. It’s about the voices that are still here—thriving—and the lives that can be saved through education, support, and access to care.
We are proud to spotlight the power of survivorship and show the world that cancer is not the end.”
The foundation noted that the NCS Day event marked yet another milestone in its mission to demystify cancer, reduce stigma, and celebrate the will to survive.
