The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) through its Foundation, says it has intensified interventions in cancer prevention and treatment through free screenings, awareness campaigns and support for specialised healthcare facilities.
Mrs Sophia Mbakwe, Executive Vice President, Business Services, NNPC Ltd., said this on Saturday in Abuja at the 12th #WalkAwayCancer campaign, organised by the Medicaid Cancer Foundation, in collaboration with the NNPC Foundation.
Mbakwe, represented by Mrs Euginia Dominion, Acting Managing Director, NNPC Foundation Ltd., said the interventions were aimed at promoting early detection, improving access to affordable healthcare and reducing the burden of cancer on Nigerians.
Mbakwe said that in February 2024, the NNPC Foundation provided free breast, cervical and prostate cancer screenings to 291 Nigerians at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja.
According to her, the exercise, conducted in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, was expanded in October 2024 to cover 3,150 Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones.
She also disclosed that NNPC Ltd., through its Joint Venture with Renaissance, donated a Linear Accelerator Radiotherapy Machine to the National Hospital, Abuja, to improve access to cancer treatment.
According to her, more than 2,000 patients have benefited from the machine, with treatment costs reduced by 80 per cent.
She said the Joint Venture further committed in November 2025 to maintaining the equipment to ensure continued access to affordable cancer treatment.
“In November 2025, the Joint Venture further committed to its maintenance, ensuring continued access to affordable cancer treatment.
“In September 2025, we extended our advocacy to childhood cancer, providing free eye cancer screenings and sensitisation to over 1,000 children in Akwa Ibom State, in partnership with the Akanimo Cancer Foundation.
“The interventions reflected the company’s belief that early detection saved lives and access to healthcare should not be determined by economic circumstances or geographical location,” she said.
She said the company’s healthcare interventions also included the rehabilitation of patient wards at the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, with a combined capacity of 102 beds, commissioned in April 2026.
She added that 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines were commissioned and handed over to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, and the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Dala, Kano, in May and June 2026, respectively.
Mbakwe further said the Foundation’s nationwide cataract outreach programme recorded 6,028 successful surgeries between December 2024 and May 2025.
She announced that another phase of the cataract programme would commence before the end of 2026.
She said the Foundation’s social interventions also covered education, scholarships, youth empowerment, environmental sustainability and access to clean energy.
Mbakwe said the company’s participation in the #WalkAwayCancer campaign underscored its commitment to supporting collective efforts to address cancer and improve healthcare delivery.
She commended the Medicaid Cancer Foundation for its sustained commitment to cancer awareness, early detection and patient support.
She called for stronger partnerships among government, healthcare institutions, corporate organisations and civil society to sustain progress in cancer prevention and treatment.
She also urged Nigerians to prioritise regular health screenings, seek early medical attention and support individuals and families affected by cancer.
The 2026 campaign, themed “One Walk; One Fight”, brought together officials of NNPC Foundation and Medicaid Cancer Foundation, government officials, healthcare professionals, development partners, cancer survivors and advocates, among others. (NAN)
