Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu Emerges UICC President
Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, the founder of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation, a consultant paediatrician, and a member of the Nigerian Cancer Society and the American Society for Clinical Oncology, has been elected President of the Union for International Cancer Control.
This was announced in a statement on the UICC website on Tuesday.
The UICC is the oldest and largest global membership organisation dedicated to taking action on cancer
The statement noted that the UICC’s General Assembly took place virtually on Tuesday and was chaired by outgoing President, Prof Jeff Dunn.
Dunn provided a review of the organisation’s performance over the past two years, highlighting achievements such as the success of the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit and the World Cancer Congress.
He also noted the dedication and resilience of cancer organisations around the world as they continued to work towards more equitable access to cancer prevention, treatment, and care in their regions.
In his presentation, the Chief Executive Officer of UICC, Cary Adams, expressed his deepest gratitude to Dunn for his leadership and dedication during a time when he faced significant personal challenges.
Adams also welcomed Ulrika as UICC’s new President, looking forward to her vision for the future.
“At today’s UICC General Assembly, full members from across the globe united virtually to welcome Ulrika Årehed Kågström as the new President and elect the Board of Directors for the 2024-2026 term, including the new President-elect, Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu from Nigeria.
“Following the voting process, Dr Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu from Nigeria was elected as President-elect. Dr Shinkafi-Bagudu is founder of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation, a consultant paediatrician, and a member of the Nigerian Cancer Society and the American Society for Clinical Oncology,” the statement partly read.
It was gathered that Kågström was elected as president-elect in 2022, and takes over as President today; while Shinkafi-Bagudu got elected as presiden-elect today, and will take over as president from 2026-2028.
In her acceptance, Shinkafi-Bagudu expressed appreciation for the global support, saying “Thank you for your trust and confidence placed in me, I am especially honoured to work with all of you towards accelerating global cancer control under the umbrella of our great organisation. I will be an interactive leader who will lean on your experiences, insights, and energies to guide the UICC in the years to come.”
In addition to the election of the President-elect, the new UICC Board of Directors for the 2024-2026 term was also voted in, repesenting 12 countries.
Dunn congratulated the new President-elect and Board members, acknowledging their expertise and dedication.
