About Us

I, Tinu Lawal the founder of ATINUKE CANCER FOUNDATION stand proudly as a breast cancer survivor, a testament to the possibility of cancer survivorship in Nigeria, a lower-middle-income country. My story began 10 years ago in 2014, when I was diagnosed here in and received all my treatments here in Nigeria, at a time when survivorship was nearly unimaginable. It was a period marked by Nigeria's struggle with an Ebola outbreak, a severe lack of treatment equipment, and the presence of only one operational radiotherapy machine for the entire country—desperately insufficient for the tens of thousands of cancer patients.

This was a time when cancer patients were deeply stigmatized, with many choosing to suffer in silence, fearing the judgment of a society that often saw cancer as a curse, a punishment, or a weapon of malice. It was a time of overwhelming misconceptions, where many believed cancer to be a form of retribution or the result of sorcery, and doctors themselves faced the challenge of offering hope in the face of inadequate resources.

Now, ten years later, it fills my heart with pride to witness the remarkable progress we’ve made despite the stigma. Through the dedicated efforts, hard work, and resilience of advocates and stakeholders. Nigeria has advanced tremendously. The stigma is diminishing, awareness is spreading. Today, thousands of patients, caregivers, and the general public is benefitting from these advancements.