Top Nigerian airline, United Nigeria Airlines, has entered into a partnership with the Nigeria Cancer Society (NCS) in the fight against the scourge of cancer in Nigeria.
The partnership was formalised at a signing ceremony held at the United Nigeria Airlines Conference Room, Minimah Estate, Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, 11th November, 2026.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Operating Officer of United Nigeria Airlines, Mr. Osita Okonkwo, said the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative is geared towards supporting the activities of the Nigeria Cancer Society by raising funds and creating awareness on cancer.
Mr. Okonkwo hinted that through voluntary donations from spirited passengers and the company, the fight against cancer will be given the needed attention. He assured of the airline’s total commitment to the cause and expressed delight in the choice of NCS for the CSR.
He noted that cancer remains one of the most devastating health challenges facing Nigerians, affecting families across all social classes, and stressed that collective action from corporate organisations, government and individuals is needed to win the war against the disease. According to him, United Nigeria Airlines will leverage its wide network, platforms and passenger traffic to drive awareness and mobilise support for cancer prevention, screening and treatment.
In his speech, the President of the Nigeria Cancer Society, Prof. Abidemi Omonisi, thanked United Nigeria Airlines for the partnership. He stated that it was actually the airline that reached out to them for the partnership, even though they had reached out to different companies without getting the needed attention and support.
Prof. Omonisi described the gesture as timely and commendable, saying it demonstrates genuine corporate concern for the health and wellbeing of Nigerians.
He highlighted the challenges of handling cancer cases in the country, including late presentation, high cost of treatment, limited facilities and low awareness. He insisted that early detection is key to taking care of the situation, and urged Nigerians to go for regular screening and to seek medical attention promptly when symptoms appear.
He expressed optimism that the partnership will go a long way in saving lives, improving access to cancer care and giving hope to patients and their families across the country.
Both parties expressed confidence that the collaboration will yield positive results and serve as a model for other corporate organisations to support the fight against cancer in Nigeria.