Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu
- Founder/CEO Medicaid Cancer Foundation
- Board Member, Union for International Cancer Control
- (UICC) Chairperson, First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC)
Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, is a Paediatrician and an advocate for women’s health, with a focus on female cancers. She obtained her Bachelor of Medicine (MBBS) degree from Ahmadu Bello University (Zaria, Nigeria) and specialised in Paediatrics and Neonatology in the United Kingdom.
Upon returning to practise in Northern Nigeria, she realised clinicians and patients had difficulty accessing diagnostic services. In response, in 2009, Dr Bagudu co-founded a comprehensive diagnostic centre in the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) called Medicaid Radio-Diagnostics & Clinics. For the first time, services previously unavailable through the private sector such as Computed Tomography Scan (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), digital x-rays, molecular laboratory tests, were provided.
In that journey, Dr Bagudu was further struck by lack of cancer awareness and care. Thus, she started the Medicaid Cancer Foundation (MCF) to increase awareness, promote preventive healthy lifestyles, and improve access to diagnostic and treatment services for cancer. The MCF has four pillars, namely: Outreach, Advocacy and Awareness, Capacity Building and Access to Treatment. It has raised over $2.5million to address gaps in cancer care.
Dr Bagudu has stepped up her cancer advocacy to a global level and was elected as a member of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) board in 2018. Using this leverage, she partnered with other stakeholders to advocate for various changes in the sector such as the introduction of the single-dose HPV vaccine to Nigeria in 2023.
As Chairperson of First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC), Dr. Bagudu works closely with Nigerian governors spouses on various health issues. She also sits on various committees and TWGs such as WHO’s Global Breast Cancer Initiative, Nigerian National Cancer Control program, and Chairs the UICC’s Knowledge, Advocacy and Policy Committee.
Dr. Bagudu was the First Lady of Kebbi State, Nigeria from 2015 to 2023. Largely a supportive role, she spearheaded initiatives in girl child education, women empowerment, and immunisation. Most notably, she ignited a cancer revolution in Kebbi State. Under her watch, the state rolled out the first Kebbi State Cancer Control Plan, established the Kebbi State Cancer Registry, and an indigent patient treatment fund.
She is a devoted grandmother, and enjoys nature walks in her spare time.