The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) has elected Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu as its president for the 2024-2026 term.

In a statement on Tuesday, the union also announced the election of a new 14-member board of directors.

The election was conducted during the UICC general assembly held virtually on October 8, 2024.

Full member organisations of UICC from across the globe participated in the election.

Shinkafi-Bagudu, a Nigerian and ex-first lady of Kebbi state, is the first African to be elected to the position.

She is a consultant pediatrician and founder of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation. She is a member of the Nigerian Cancer Society and the American Society for Clinical Oncology.

She expressed appreciation for the election and assured that she would be an interactive leader “who will lean on your experiences, insights and energies to guide the UICC in the years to come”.

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Shinkafi-Bagudu. He said her election is of historic significance as the “first African and fifth woman to lead the global cancer control organisation”.

According to a statement on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president, Tinubu hailed her competence and character, affirming “the enormous talents that abound in Nigeria”.

The president described Shinkafi-Bagudu’s rise as “a landmark achievement and a testament to Nigeria’s growing influence in global health leadership”.

“President Tinubu recalls Dr Shinkafi-Bagudu’s invaluable services to Kebbi state and the country, for which Nigeria is deeply grateful,” the statement reads.

“He lauds her stewardship as Chairperson of the First Ladies Cancer Initiative and her contributions to establishing the Kebbi State Strategic Plan for Cancer Control during her tenure as the First Lady of Kebbi State.

“President Tinubu expresses confidence in Dr. Shinkafi-Bagudu’s ability to use her new office and leadership to improve cancer control and global health.

“The Geneva-based UICC was founded in 1933 and has more than 1100 member organisations in over 170 countries and territories.”

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, has cleared N68.5 billion in pension arrears for public servants who retired from the state’s service.

Bode Agoro, head of service in the state, spoke on Tuesday in Lagos during a sensitisation event on the contributory pension scheme (CPS) for public servants.

The event was organised by the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC).

Agoro praised Sanwo-Olu for prioritising the welfare of retirees by ensuring they receive their benefits promptly upon retirement.

He also commended the governor for his continuous efforts to improve the welfare of public servants in the state.

The head of service said the CPS, which was passed into law on March 19, 2007, in Lagos, was to provide a sustainable retirement plan that ensures financial security upon staff retirement from active service.

“Since its introduction, a lot of government policies have been made to strengthen the Nigerian pension industry, provide security for citizens’ savings, well as protect workers’ retirement benefits,” Agoro said.

“However, all these policies have come with the need to align ourselves, as workers, with the evolvement of the scheme.

“Knowledge, they say is power, and information is key. Therefore, a man without the right information will no doubt be deformed.”

He said the sensitisation programme was organised to combat misinformation about the pension scheme, providing public servants with updated information.

Agoro also highlighted the state’s ongoing efforts to update data, including linking national identification numbers (NIN) to all accounts, such as bank and telecommunications accounts, to streamline pension payments.

LAGOS URGES PUBLIC SERVANTS TO UPDATE THEIR DATA WITH PFAs

Agoro urged public servants to update their data with their pension fund administrators (PFAs) to ensure smooth processing of their retirement payments.

The head of service said for individuals who recently had their service documents updated, changed their locations, or altered their names, the exercise was designed to offer them new opportunities to register those changes with their PFAs, accordingly.

“Considering the different development that public servants might have experienced over the years, this exercise will be made periodic to allow you register such development with your PFAs,” he said.

“This is to enable updated information that will ease processing of your retirement benefits by LASPEC as well as the PFAs.

“As partners in progress, our PFAs will be made available at the Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium at Alausa, Ikeja, for four days as scheduled in our circular, to attend to your proper documentation.”

Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources (oil), says he did not direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to stop operating refineries and focus solely on equity participation in other refineries.

In a statement on Tuesday, the minister said the statement was made by Kamoru Busari, director of upstream in the ministry of petroleum resources, who represented him at a recent conference in Lagos.

Speaking on the issue, Lokpobiri described the statement as “false”.

“My attention has been drawn to statements made by Engr. Kamoru Busari, Director of Upstream in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, who represented me at a recent conference in Lagos,” Lokpobiri said.

“I wish to categorically state that the claim that I directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to stop running its own refineries and focus solely on equity participation in other refineries is false.”

Lokpobiri said this does not represent his position as the minister overseeing the oil sector, nor does it reflect the stance of the federal government.

“It is important to clarify that NNPCL is a company governed under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), with a functional board and management,” he said.

According to the minister, the ministry of petroleum resources does not control or run NNPC, as it operates independently like any corporate entity.

“The oil and gas sector is fully deregulated, and the Nigerian government remains committed to promoting in-country refining,” the minister said.

“We encourage companies, including NNPCL, to operate independently, following global best practices. While we provide strategic guidance, we do not interfere directly in the operations of these companies.”

Lokpobiri reaffirmed his dedication to supporting the growth and independence of NNPC, ensuring that its operations are in tandem with international standards for efficiency, transparency, and profitability.

“I wish to categorically state that the claim that I directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to stop running its own refineries and focus solely on equity participation in other refineries is false.”

Lokpobiri said this does not represent his position as the minister overseeing the oil sector, nor does it reflect the stance of the federal government.

“It is important to clarify that NNPCL is a company governed under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), with a functional board and management,” he said.

According to the minister, the ministry of petroleum resources does not control or run NNPC, as it operates independently like any corporate entity.

“The oil and gas sector is fully deregulated, and the Nigerian government remains committed to promoting in-country refining,” the minister said.

“We encourage companies, including NNPCL, to operate independently, following global best practices. While we provide strategic guidance, we do not interfere directly in the operations of these companies.”

Lokpobiri reaffirmed his dedication to supporting the growth and independence of NNPC, ensuring that its operations are in tandem with international standards for efficiency, transparency, and profitability.