United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) has introduced voluntary donations through its online ticket booking platform and inflight announcements to mobilise funds for cancer patients in partnership with the Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS).
The initiative will allow passengers to contribute to cancer care through a dedicated donation account when purchasing flight tickets on the airline’s website or travelling aboard its aircraft.
The partnership was formalised on Wednesday in Lagos, with both organisations expressing optimism that the initiative would provide a sustainable funding channel to support patients facing the high cost of cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Managing Director of United Nigeria Airlines, Mr Osita Okonkwo, said the arrangement would create additional opportunities for Nigerians to support people battling the disease.
He explained that passengers booking tickets through the airline’s website would have the option of making voluntary donations, while similar appeals would be made during flights to encourage contributions.
According to him, all donations would be processed electronically through a dedicated account, ruling out cash transactions and ensuring transparency in the management of funds.
He added that the airline would work with its cabin crew to drive participation through onboard announcements and direct engagement with passengers.
“Cancer treatment is extremely expensive. It is what we call a catastrophic disease. In some cases, we have seen an entire community contribute to save a life.
“People shouldn’t die of cancer ideally if their cases are discovered very early,” he said.
On accountability, Okonkwo assured contributors that the funds would be transparently managed, with periodic updates on donations received and how they were utilised.
“We are guaranteeing accountability.
“From time to time, we will update the public and give an account of what has happened and what is being done with the funds raised.
“Every cent that is donated will be fully accounted for,” he added.
Okonkwo said the initiative would remain in place for as long as necessary to support efforts to defeat cancer.
The President of the Nigerian Cancer Society, Prof. Abidemi Omonisi, described the partnership as a significant intervention in addressing the funding challenges confronting cancer care and support programmes in the country.
Omonisi, who is also a pathologist, said cancer affected people across different age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds, while the rising cost of diagnosis and treatment continued to place enormous financial pressure on patients and their families.
He noted that the financial burden was sometimes so overwhelming that communities, religious organisations, friends and relatives had to pool resources to support patients.
He said some advanced cancer treatment options could cost tens of millions of naira, making access to timely and effective care difficult for many Nigerians.
According to him, the partnership would help the society bridge part of its funding gap and strengthen its capacity to provide support for cancer patients.
Omonisi also emphasised the importance of early detection and screening, noting that patients diagnosed at the early stages of the disease had better chances of successful treatment.
However, he identified inadequate diagnostic infrastructure, limited access to specialised healthcare services and the high cost of cancer medicines as major challenges affecting cancer management in Nigeria.
He said the society was involved in cancer education, research, screening advocacy and policy engagement, stressing that sustainable funding was essential to expanding these interventions.
The NCS president said the society, which had existed for almost 60 years, had contributed to the development of cancer-related policies in Nigeria, including the country’s National Cancer Control Plan for 2026 to 2030.
He stressed that effective implementation and adequate funding of the plan would be critical to reducing the country’s growing cancer burden.
Also speaking, the airline’s Cabin Services Manager, Mr Ronke Babalola, said the cabin crew would spearhead the inflight awareness and fundraising campaign.
She disclosed that the airline was considering the introduction of QR codes that passengers could scan to access a donation platform, while also creating opportunities for individuals interested in making regular contributions.
The partnership is expected to provide a continuous fundraising channel, leveraging the airline’s passenger base of more than one million travellers.
Both organisations expressed optimism that the initiative would encourage greater public participation in cancer care funding, particularly in supporting patients who require early diagnosis and treatment.
The initiative is built around three key pillars: fundraising through ticket bookings and inflight donations, accountability in the management of contributions, and the human-interest objective of helping Nigerians access early detection and cancer treatment.