Naija Cancer Watch Fellowship

Cancer is no longer a distant public health challenge in Nigeria. It is an unfolding national crisis. Every year, more than 127,000 Nigerians are diagnosed with cancer, and many families experience a journey marred by delays, misdiagnosis, inaccessible care, poor response to treatment, and avoidable suffering. Nigeria currently records one of the highest cancer mortality rates globally, with nearly 7 in 10 people diagnosed with cancer dying from the disease, largely due to aggressive tumour biology, fragmented systems, poor access, and a lack of research that considers our genetic diversity.

In Nigeria, the gap between what is known about cancer and what is believed at the community level remains dangerously wide. Many Nigerians still associate a diagnosis with a death sentence, view screening with suspicion, or delay care due to stigma and misinformation. These are not clinical failures. They are communication failures.

Media professionals sit at the exact intersection of public trust and public reach. The Naija Cancer Watch Fellowship is designed to close that gap, not by adding another awareness campaign, but by building a cadre of skilled storytellers who understand cancer well enough to report on it accurately, humanely, and consistently.