The First Lady of Kebbi State, Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu, has lost out in the race to be president of the Union for International Cancer Control, an organisation based in Switzerland that unites and supports the global cancer community to reduce the burden of cancer, promote greater equity and ensure that cancer control continues to be a priority in the world health and development agenda. Instead, an Australian, Professor Jeff Dunn, a behavioural scientist and CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, was elected to lead the organisation for the next two years.
Bagudu was however made a member of the organisation’s board alongside 12 other UICC member organisations from 12 countries across Europe, Middle East, North America and Africa.
THEWILL had earlier reported that while congratulating her on her nomination, alongside others, for the position of president of the organisation, President Muhammadu Buhari mandated the Federal Ministry of Health and Foreign Affairs to do everything possible to provide her with the support she needs to ensure her success in the elections.
An advocate of children’s and women’s health, Bagudu is a well-known Global Cancer Advocate. She is a consultant paediatrician and the founder of Medicaid Cancer Foundation, which she started in the course of looking after children and their mothers started confronting her with their medical issues and requesting assistance, particularly around breast and cervical cancer.
She has served on many technical committees, including the steering committee for the National Cancer Control plan and a ministerial committee to build world-class diagnostic centres in six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. She obtained her MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine) from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria then went on to specialize in Paediatrics and Neonatology in the United Kingdom. She has a Master’s degree in Paediatrics, a Diploma in Tropical Child Health. She is also a member of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.
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