United Nigeria Airlines Introduces Cancer Donations Through Online Bookings
United Nigeria Airlines (UNA) has partnered with the Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS) to raise funds for cancer patients through voluntary donations on its online ticket booking platform and inflight fundraising campaigns.
The initiative, formalised on Wednesday in Lagos, is aimed at providing additional financial support for cancer patients struggling with the rising cost of diagnosis and treatment in Nigeria.
Under the partnership, passengers will have the option of making voluntary contributions when booking flight tickets through the airline’s website. Donations will also be encouraged through inflight announcements and direct engagement by cabin crew members.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Managing Director of United Nigeria Airlines, Osita Okonkwo, said the initiative would create an opportunity for more Nigerians to contribute towards improving access to cancer care.
He explained that all contributions would be processed electronically through a dedicated account to ensure transparency and eliminate cash transactions.
Okonkwo assured donors that the airline would provide periodic updates on funds raised and their utilisation, stressing that every contribution would be properly accounted for.
He described cancer treatment as extremely expensive, noting that the financial burden often forces communities, religious organisations, friends and relatives to mobilise resources to support affected individuals.
According to him, early detection remains critical to improving treatment outcomes and reducing the number of lives lost to the disease.
Also speaking, the President of the Nigerian Cancer Society, Prof. Abidemi Omonisi, described the partnership as an important intervention that would help address funding challenges confronting cancer care and support programmes in the country.
Omonisi, a pathologist, said cancer affects people across different age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds, while the increasing cost of treatment continues to place significant financial pressure on patients and their families.
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 added that some advanced cancer treatment options cost tens of millions of naira, making timely and effective healthcare inaccessible to many patients.
The NCS president said the partnership would strengthen the society’s capacity to support patients while expanding its activities in cancer education, research, screening advocacy and policy engagement.
He further highlighted the importance of early detection, explaining that patients diagnosed at the early stages of cancer generally have better chances of successful treatment.
Omonisi disclosed that the society had contributed to the development of cancer-related policies in Nigeria, including the National Cancer Control Plan for 2026 to 2030, adding that adequate funding and effective implementation would be essential to reducing the country’s cancer burden.
Meanwhile, the airline’s Cabin Services Manager, Ronke Babalola, said cabin crew members would lead the inflight awareness and fundraising campaign.
She disclosed that the airline was considering introducing QR codes that passengers could scan to access a donation platform, alongside arrangements for individuals willing to make regular contributions.
The partnership is expected to leverage United Nigeria Airlines’ passenger base of more than one million travellers to establish a continuous fundraising channel for cancer care.
Both organisations expressed optimism that the initiative would encourage greater public participation in supporting cancer patients, particularly those requiring early diagnosis and treatment.
