Salako: Nigeria will not just observe oncology innovation, but help shape and bring it home
August 15, 2026: The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment in Nigeria through stronger international partnerships, technology transfer and expansion of radiotherapy capacity.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, stated this while delivering the opening address at the LINK Global Summit on Innovation and Practice in Oncology, held at the China National Convention Centre, Beijing, China.
Dr Salako said Nigeria’s participation in the Summit reflects the Federal Government’s determination to move beyond observing advances in oncology to actively shaping innovation and bringing appropriate technologies and expertise home to improve cancer outcomes.
He highlighted the inauguration of the Radiotherapy Working Group of the China-Africa Hospital Alliance and the LINK Global Oncology Alliance, with Nigeria as a founding African partner, as well as the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement with LinaTech, a Chinese technology company specialising in advanced radiation therapy solutions.
According to the Minister, cancer remains a national priority for Nigeria, noting that the country recorded an estimated 127,763 new cancer cases and 79,542 cancer deaths in 2022, with breast, prostate and cervical cancers accounting for more than 40 per cent of cancer mortality.
Dr Salako said the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was determined to change the narrative, noting that Nigeria’s mortality-to-incidence ratio had improved from 62.3 per cent in 2022 to 59.6 per cent in 2024, although significant work remained to be done.
He said that since May 2023, the Renewed Hope Agenda had accelerated interventions across cancer prevention, awareness, early detection, treatment, financing, infrastructure and research.
The Minister highlighted the introduction of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into routine immunisation in October 2023, with more than 14 million girls aged 9–14 years reached, describing the campaign as the largest single round of HPV vaccination in Africa.
He also cited the National Initiative for Cancer Early Detection, Screening and Coordinated Access to Network Care (NICE-SCAN) and initiatives of the Task Force for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as key interventions aimed at bringing screening, early detection and referral closer to Nigerians.
On treatment and financial protection, Dr Salako identified the National Cancer Access Programme, Catastrophic Health Insurance Scheme, National Cancer Health Fund and Social Determinants of Cancer Care Fund as important mechanisms for improving access to essential cancer medicines and care while reducing the financial burden on patients and families.
He further disclosed that the Federal Government had strengthened the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), which had trained about 140 early-career cancer scientists and supported 24 research grants.
According to him, six cancer centres of excellence are being developed, with three already completed and commissioned in Katsina, Enugu and Benin, equipped with modern linear accelerators, while the remaining three are progressing towards completion.
The Minister further disclosed that President Tinubu had approved the procurement and installation of 35 additional linear accelerators between 2026 and 2028, a move expected to significantly expand access to radiotherapy services for Nigerians.
“Earlier this year, Mr President approved the procurement and installation of thirty-five additional linear accelerators for between 2026 and 2028 to further increase access to radiotherapy in the management of sold cancers.” Salako confirmed.
Dr Salako said these interventions were being implemented within the framework of the Nigeria National Cancer Control Plan 2026–2030, which prioritises prevention, decentralised diagnostics and treatment, financial risk protection, oncology workforce development, clinical trials and cancer registries.
He noted that the recent inauguration of the Blood Cancer Consortium further demonstrated the Federal Government’s commitment to building a coordinated national cancer-control architecture, stressing that Nigeria’s long-term ambition was not merely to acquire cancer equipment but to develop the human and technical capacity required to install, maintain and eventually manufacture cancer technologies locally.
He described the emerging partnership with China as critical to achieving these objectives, noting that the cooperation agreement would support radiotherapy technical assistance, joint research and development, academic exchanges and professional capacity building.
“Nigeria seeks key strategic outcomes in the months ahead: a joint work plan with named focal persons and quarterly milestones, so that this Memorandum lives beyond this signatures. We want to see the twinning of our cancer centres of excellence, the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, and our tertiary hospitals like the National Hospital, Abuja with the Chinese cancer hospitals” the Minister called.
He therefore called for the establishment of a designated clinical training base in Nigeria that could serve as a West African hub for advanced radiotherapy training, alongside fellowship opportunities in China for Nigerian radiation oncologists, medical physicists, radiotherapy technologists and biomedical engineers.
Looking towards 2030, Dr Salako said Nigeria would pursue technology transfer, local assembly and servicing of radiotherapy and imaging equipment, joint clinical trials, cancer registry-linked research, artificial intelligence-assisted treatment planning, adaptive radiotherapy and tele-oncology collaborations.
He added that Nigeria’s incentives for health manufacturing, including zero-duty and zero-VAT measures, provided an enabling environment for increased investment in local production and technology transfer.
“Machines without people are monuments,” the Minister said, stressing that every linear accelerator installed must be backed by trained personnel, maintenance systems and sustainable technical support, urging participants at the Summit to focus on translating innovation and evidence into tangible improvements in patient care.
He said, “Innovation in oncology is meaningful only where it reaches the patient. Let this summit be remembered not for what was displayed, but for what was delivered. Nigeria is ready, our plan is costed, our partners are welcome, and the patients are waiting.”
The Minister expressed confidence that the Summit would strengthen collaboration among governments, clinicians, researchers, industry, development partners and patient advocates to accelerate solutions that would improve cancer outcomes in Nigeria, Africa and globally.
Signed:
Ado Bako
Assistant Director, Information and Public Relations
