Stories that Save Lives
Building Nigeria's first dedicated community of media professionals trained to report on cancer prevention with accuracy, cultural sensitivity, and impact. Because a story told well is a story that saves a life.
12th July 2026
29th July 2026
15 Fellows
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.
Access media grants to fund reporting.
Get certified as a Community Health Ambassador.
1-on-1 with clinical oncology experts and a cancer survivor.
Receive VIP invitations to the Prevent Cancer Conference.
15
Fellows completed the fellowship
12
Facilitators for the fellowship
65
Cancer awareness content created
100k+
Persons reached
The Naija Cancer Watch Fellowship is built on a highly proven blueprint. In 2012, Sebeccly Cancer Care launched its premier medical media program, fundamentally disrupting health journalism trends across Nigeria.
Direct production funding enabled alumnus Apollonia Adeyemi to break structural barriers and win the prestigious Health Correspondent Award.
Successfully bridged collaboration gaps between local media houses and healthcare delivery networks for unified cancer control plans.
Cultivated an organic, long-term network of specialized health writers that keeps critical oncological policy in public views.
 gets the Media Support Award.JPG)
A rigorous professional development structure balancing theory with actual audience deployment:
Practicing journalists, broadcasters, digital content developers, audio producers, and health communicators in Nigeria. Must attend July–Sept 2026 programs.
The most important skill I gained is learning how to tell health stories with empathy and purpose. I learnt that cancer reporting is not just about sharing facts, but about amplifying the experiences behind the diagnosis while ensuring that the information shared is accurate, sensitive, and useful. The fellowship also strengthened my interviewing, storytelling, and health communication skills.
ALIBSA Champion - Ageing Lifestyle in Blacks and Asians (ALIBSA)
I gained knowledge about NICRAT and the NCCP- the cancer fund. I have never heard about them or major policies by the Government in the Cancer space. I am also equipped with mastering data-to-policy cancer reporting, learning how to translate complex clinical research, cancer epidemiology, and health policy frameworks into accessible, human-centered stories. The fellowship deepened my ability to look beyond the clinical diagnosis, empowering me to produce reports that demystify cancer care, tackle public stigma, and actively drive early screening and health policy advocacy within local communities.
Assistant Director News & Head of Social Media Unit, Lagos Television
