By Gloria Ikibah
Chairman of the National Task Force on Cervical Cancer Elimination (NTF-CCE), Prof. Isaac Adewole, has restated the commitment of the Federal Government to ending cervical cancer.
Prof. Adewole stated this while addressing journalists ahead of activities marking World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, on Monday in Abuja. 
The Chairman who was represented by the Director Cancer Prevention and Control, the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), Dr Usman Waziri, described the disease as a preventable tragedy that continues to claim thousands of lives.
According to him , the Task Force, secured a N1 billion donation from Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to support nationwide screening.
He said the Task Force recently constituted a national project implementation subcommittee chaired by the president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Nigeria (SOGON), Prof Okechukwu Ikpeze, .
“The committee has been mandated to plan a nationwide rollout of HPV testing across the 6 geopolitical zones, using the N1 billion billion Naira donation from Her Excellency as seed funding. The beneficiary state’s commitment to counterpart funding to ensure sustainability is a prerequisite for selecting the 6 states for the pilot,” he said.
He explained that this year’s theme, “Act Now: Eliminate Cervical Cancer, reflects our commitment to expanding vaccination, screening, and treatment initiatives across the country.
“In 2022, Nigeria recorded 14,089 new cases and 8,240 deaths, with a fatality rate of about 60 percent. Despite available vaccines and early detection methods, the disease remains a serious public health challenge,” he added.
Prof. Adewole highlighted Nigeria’s role on the global stage, and explained the establishment of the NTF-CCE in 2024.
“In 2018, Nigeria was the only country to join WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the United Nations General Assembly to call for international collaboration to eliminate cervical cancer. This led to the launch of the global elimination strategy on November 17, 2020.
“The Task Force is chaired by myself, with Prof. Sani Malami, former president of the Nigerian Cancer Society, as secretary, and Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, president-elect of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), as vice chair,” he said.
Prof. Adewole also outlined the launch of the Partnership to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Nigeria (PECCiN), which targets vaccinating 8 million adolescent girls and screening 8 million women annually, and highlighted Nigeria’s vaccination progress.
“The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency will lead vaccine delivery, while the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment oversees screening.
“While only 6 million girls were vaccinated across Africa in 2022, Nigeria alone has vaccinated over 15 million girls in two years, tripling coverage on the continent.
“The National Assembly will be illuminated in teal, the international colour for cervical cancer awareness, to recognise the role of legislation in improving access to free screening in public health facilities.
“Our goal is clear: to put Nigeria firmly on the path to cervical cancer elimination. With political support, public engagement, and effective implementation of vaccination and screening programs, we can prevent needless deaths and save lives,” Prof. Adewole said.
He urged collaboration with state governments, health agencies, and civil society to achieve the Task Force’s ambitious targets.
