United Nigeria Airlines has entered into a partnership with the Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS) to mobilise funds, promote early detection and improve public awareness of cancer, as the two organisations seek to address the growing burden of the disease in Nigeria.
The initiative, which is part of the airline’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, will involve voluntary donations from passengers, inflight awareness campaigns and the use of the airline’s digital platforms to encourage Nigerians to contribute towards cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Under the arrangement, passengers purchasing tickets through United Nigeria Airlines’ website will be given the opportunity to make voluntary donations, starting from N1,000, towards the campaign. The airline also plans to introduce other donation channels onboard its aircraft to enable passengers to support the initiative during their journeys.
Speaking at a press conference to unveil the partnership, Managing Director of United Nigeria Airlines, Mazi Osita Okonkwo, said the decision to collaborate with the society was driven by the need to contribute to the fight against a disease that had affected millions of people, either directly or indirectly.
Okonkwo said the airline considered its extensive passenger network an effective platform for mobilising resources and spreading information about cancer, particularly the importance of regular screening and early diagnosis.
He explained that the airline had studied the activities of the Nigerian Cancer Society and was convinced that supporting its programmes would make a meaningful difference in the lives of cancer patients and their families.
“We have a unique, innovative way of raising funds from the teeming number of Nigerians and non-Nigerians who fly with United Nigeria every day to our different destinations. We have looked at the programmes and activities of the society and we are very happy with them.
“We believe they need to be supported, not only by United Nigeria through its foundation, but also through the passengers who fly with us and book tickets on our platform. This is a simple but unique and innovative approach. When you book a ticket, you have the option of making a voluntary contribution. You can donate N1,000, N2,000, N5,000, N100,000 or whatever amount you wish to contribute,” he said.
The airline chief disclosed that donations generated through the booking platform would be paid directly into a dedicated account designated by the NCS, stressing that the arrangement was designed to guarantee transparency and accountability.
He added that the airline would periodically reconcile the funds raised with the society and provide updates to the public on the utilisation of the contributions.
According to him, the fundraising initiative would be complemented by awareness campaigns onboard aircraft, including public announcements by cabin crew, distribution of information materials and the introduction of QR codes through which passengers could access the donation platform.
Okonkwo said the airline was also considering additional arrangements to enable passengers to make contributions through other channels while onboard.
He noted that the initiative would be sustained for as long as necessary, describing cancer prevention and treatment as a collective responsibility that required the participation of individuals, corporate organisations and other stakeholders.
The managing director, who revealed that he was a cancer survivor, said his personal experience and the loss of two sisters to the disease had reinforced his determination to support efforts aimed at reducing its impact on Nigerian families.
He urged Nigerians not to conceal their health challenges or resort to unproven remedies, insisting that early medical intervention could significantly improve the chances of successful treatment.
“I am a cancer survivor myself. I also lost my sisters to cancer. We are not shy about talking about it because if you are able to tell your story, it gives hope to another person who may be having that problem or who may think that this is a death sentence.
“The only way it becomes a death sentence is when you hide it, when you do nothing about it and when you fail to undertake the regular, simple and cost-effective investigations and tests that can help you.
“There are serious, innovative and groundbreaking advances in the early detection and treatment of cancer. People should be informed, they should know about them and they should take advantage of them,” he said.
Okonkwo maintained that although raising funds was an important component of the partnership, providing accurate information about cancer was equally essential.
He said the airline would use its flights and other communication channels to discourage misconceptions about the disease and encourage passengers to undertake regular medical examinations.
He further disclosed that more than 1.7 million passengers had flown with United Nigeria Airlines, noting that the figure represented an opportunity to reach a considerable number of people with cancer awareness messages.
Appealing for public support, he said Nigerians could make significant contributions to the campaign through small donations, adding that the initiative was not intended to place a financial burden on passengers.
“We are not asking for too much. At the end of the day, it is about bringing everybody on board and getting everyone to contribute towards this very important fight. Small drops will make a huge difference.
“Money is very important, but information is even more important. Together with the press, the society, United Nigeria and our passengers, we will unite to fight cancer,” he added.
In his remarks, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Cancer Society, Prof. Abidemi Omonisi, described the partnership as an important intervention that would strengthen the society’s efforts to address the increasing incidence of cancer and the challenges associated with its management in Nigeria.
Omonisi said the NCS, which has been in existence for almost 60 years, was established to promote cancer education, research, advocacy and support for patients, survivors and their families.
He described the organisation as an umbrella body bringing together cancer researchers, healthcare professionals, survivors, policymakers and other stakeholders involved in cancer prevention and control.
According to him, the society began its awareness activities at a time when cancer was poorly understood in Nigeria, with limited public knowledge and little recognition of the disease by some authorities.
He said the organisation had continued to engage governments and communities over the years to promote awareness, influence policy and encourage investment in cancer prevention and treatment.
Omonisi identified late diagnosis, inadequate screening facilities, high treatment costs, limited research and poor access to specialised healthcare as some of the major challenges confronting cancer management in the country.
He particularly expressed concern about the absence of a well-coordinated national cancer screening programme, arguing that screening exercises should be linked to proper diagnosis and treatment arrangements.
According to him, some screening initiatives identify people with suspected cancer but fail to provide the necessary support for further investigations and treatment, discouraging others from participating in such exercises.
“Screening is very important because the only escape that we have in developing countries is aggressive screening. You must be involved in screening. If you screen, you pick up these cases early, and once you have early cases, there are a lot of things you can do to salvage our patients.
“But you cannot screen people until you have a solution to help them. Some people conduct screening, identify those who are positive and leave them to their fate. That is why people do not want to go for screening. Some people believe it is better not to know their status.
“We need to develop a well-structured national screening programme that ensures that people who are screened can access diagnosis and treatment,” he said.
The NCS president cited the experience of a breast cancer survivor whose condition was detected at Stage One and who would be marking 30 years of survival next year, describing the case as evidence of the benefits of early diagnosis.
He maintained that cancer was not necessarily a death sentence, noting that patients diagnosed at an early stage could achieve successful treatment outcomes even with the existing limitations in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Available estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organisation’s specialised cancer research agency, indicate that Nigeria recorded an estimated 152,261 new cancer cases and 90,795 deaths in 2024.
Breast cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Nigerians, followed by prostate and cervical cancers, highlighting the need for stronger prevention, screening and treatment interventions.
Omonisi said the financial implications of cancer treatment had become overwhelming for many families, with some patients selling their houses, vehicles and other properties to finance medical care.
He disclosed that some advanced cancer treatments, particularly immunotherapy, could cost as much as N50 million, making them unaffordable for a large proportion of Nigerians.
He also highlighted the geographical barriers confronting patients, particularly those living in rural communities who must travel to major cities to access specialised cancer treatment.
According to him, the cost of transportation, accommodation and repeated hospital visits often compounds the financial difficulties of patients, with some unable to continue treatment after commencing their medical procedures.
He warned that interruptions in treatment could have serious consequences, stressing the need for financial assistance that would enable patients to complete prescribed treatment programmes.
The professor also called for increased investment in cancer research, particularly studies that would help establish the genetic and biological characteristics of cancers affecting Africans.
He argued that more locally generated scientific evidence was necessary to improve treatment outcomes, noting that many cancer medicines and treatment approaches were developed largely from studies involving populations outside Africa.
Omonisi further identified the need to improve access to specialised cancer facilities, warning Nigerians against seeking treatment from healthcare providers without the requisite training in oncology.
He explained that cancer management required the expertise of specially trained professionals, including medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and surgical oncologists.
On government policy, he disclosed that the society had participated in the development of Nigeria’s National Cancer Control Plan 2026–2030, which provides a framework for strengthening cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care.
He, however, said implementation and funding remained major concerns, urging the government and private sector to support the execution of the plan.
He commended United Nigeria Airlines for initiating the partnership, describing it as a demonstration of how corporate organisations could deploy their resources and operational platforms to address critical public health challenges.
Also speaking, the airline’s Cabin Services Manager, Ronke Babalola, said cabin crew members would be actively involved in taking the campaign to passengers during flights.
She explained that the airline would develop special announcements to educate passengers about cancer and encourage them to support the initiative.
Babalola said the airline was also considering the introduction of QR-coded cards that passengers could scan to access the donation platform and obtain relevant information about the campaign.
She added that cabin crew members would undertake direct engagement with passengers to explain the objectives of the initiative and encourage voluntary contributions.
According to her, the airline intends to integrate the campaign into its regular inflight operations to ensure that cancer awareness remains a continuous exercise.
The partnership is expected to provide the Nigerian Cancer Society with additional resources to support its programmes while giving the airline an opportunity to deploy its growing passenger network towards a public health cause.
Both organisations expressed optimism that sustained public participation, improved awareness and stronger financial support would contribute to reducing late cancer diagnosis and improving access to care for affected Nigerians.
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