The Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) has entered into a partnership with a leading Chinese firm, Cherami-PV Group, to deploy artificial intelligence-driven solutions for early detection and treatment of breast cancer.
Speaking at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding by the two parties in Ado-Ekiti, on Tuesday, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Smaranda Olarinde, said that the partnership was aimed at addressing one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health challenges.
Prof. Olarinde said the partnership would leverage the AI-enabled breast imaging to improve early diagnosis, enhance accuracy, and expand access to quality screening, stressing that technology would complement, not replace, medical expertise.
The VC who described the partnership as a model for impactful collaboration between academia, healthcare, and industry noted that the pilot phase of the project would ensure ethical compliance, capacity building, and evidence-based implementation.
She expressed confidence that the partnership would deliver measurable benefits to Ekiti State, serve as a model for similar collaborations across Nigeria and Africa, and ultimately contribute to saving lives, advancing knowledge, and strengthening global partnerships.
The CMD of ABUAD Hospital, Dr. Akinola Akinmade, described cancer as one of the leading causes of death in Nigeria, with breast cancer posing a particularly grave threat to women.
He disclosed that about 32,000 women are diagnosed with the disease annually, while no fewer than 16,000 die each year, and 42 women die every hour.
Akinmade said early detection remained critical to reversing the ugly trend, noting that the partnership between ABUAD and Cherami-PV group would deploy artificial intelligence to enable rapid and accurate diagnosis.
The CMD added that the initiative would also provide telemedicine support to complement ABUAD’s existing manpower, improve clinical decision-making, and strengthen capacity building for healthcare professionals.
He said that the collaboration would further lead to the establishment of a standard cancer treatment centre at the hospital, positioning ABUAD as a leading hub for cancer care and research in Nigeria and beyond.
The co-founder of Cherami Investment, Prof. Wei Xiaolin, expressed delight over the partnership, describing ABUAD as one of the most outstanding academic and medical institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa.
He said that the decision to partner with ABUAD was informed by the university’s unparalleled reputation for innovation, research excellence, and its consistent delivery of world-class healthcare services.
He added that the partnership between Cherami Investment and ABUAD was anchored on shared values and a collective resolve to address critical health challenges, especially cancer.
Prof. Xiaolin said that the collaboration would combine ABUAD’s strong clinical capacity with Cherami’s technological expertise to deliver innovative solutions that would not only benefit Nigeria but also serve as a model for Africa and the global health community.
Prof. Xiaolin, who hailed Babalola, whom he described as a rare visionary and a hero of Africa, noted that his life story and accomplishments in law, education, healthcare, and philanthropy stood as a source of inspiration beyond Nigeria.
In his remarks, Babalola declared that the university was fully committed to conquering cancer, describing the deadly disease as one of the greatest health challenges confronting humanity.
He said that ABUAD was established to tackle impossible problems through cutting-edge knowledge, research, and innovation, stressing that cancer would not be an exception.
Babalola said that ABUAD hospital had, over the years, recorded notable medical breakthroughs, recalling its significant role in researching and producing a drug approved by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He expressed confidence that cancer, like other complex diseases, could be defeated through sustained research, collaboration, and determination, saying, “Whatever it takes, we are ready. With this partnership, we believe a cure for cancer is achievable.”
