• CHAIRMAN, AND INITIATOR/VISION BEARER of ASSOCIATION FOR GOOD CLINICAL PRACTICE IN NIGERIA,[AGCPN]: an initiative that has been promoting responsible conduct of Human Research and developing the infrastructure for clinical trials in Nigeria through government-regulatory body advocacy /media sensitisation, conferences and training workshops. It also serves as an umbrella organisation networking investigators/clinical trialists in Nigeria. AGCPN has been conducting Annual capacity building National training workshops in Nigeria for the past 3 years and has, through this means, created a pool of GCP compliant investigators within the country. Current effort of AGCPN is to institute ‘on-site’ regional trainings in 6 representative Geo-political regions, as well as use the CITI web-based training to assist in developing dedicated clinical trial sites in 22 tertiary institutions in Nigeria. o The Association for Good Clinical Practice in Nigeria (AGCPN) in partnership with Pfizer inc. USA organized 3- Zonal ‘Train-the-Trainer’ Workshops in The Clinical Trial Process and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) to raise a 'Pool of AGCPN In-Country Faculty' to drive the proposed regular 6-regional AGCPN On-site Capacity building workshops. This is in keeping with AGCPN’s goal of expanding the Clinical Trial Infrastructure in Nigeria and creating a forum for clinical research practitioners to exchange ideas on/encourage best practices.. o The TOT was carried out at, Ife (3-5th sept), Zaria (7-9th sept) and Enugu (11-13th of Sept) 2008, This singular action has created a pool of 30 facilitators in GCP AND CLINICAL TRIAL PROCESS, in the country. This will be good news to clinical trial sponsors and would definitely add flesh to the clinical trial Infrastructure AGCPN in collaboration with NAFDAC, NHREC, NIPRD, NIMR, NHVMAG, NIBIN and other stakeholders have been working on for the past 3 years. AGCPN has just been given an official mandate (Nov 2009) to coordinate the review of Nigeria’s Clinical Trial Regulations and organize and run a joint AGCPN/NAFDAC workshop AIMED AT PREPARING Nigeria to become a favoured CT destination. The initiating workshop has just been successfully carried out from the 26th-29th April, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. A task force has been formed to work on different aspects of the CT Regulations, identify the gaps and bring it up to internationally acceptable standards. CITI AFRICAN COORDINATOR’ (2007-date). Appointed the African Coordinator for Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI)- (2007-date), which is an initiative based at the University of Miami, that delivers high quality web based ethics education to the research community. CITI Program includes web based basic and advanced instruction on topics such as the Protection of Human Research Subjects, Good Clinical Practice, Health Information Privacy and Security, the Responsible Conduct of Research, and Laboratory Animal Welfare. The courses are custom designed for the specific needs of target audiences at participating institutions, especially from developing countries. Have thus been attending the CITI Developers meeting, twice a year in the USA, to continue to update and create the training programs of CITI. INITIATOR AND CHAIRMAN OF A BREAST PREVENTION INITIATIVE, ‘BWS – BREAST WITHOUT SPOT’ INITIATIVE which is a Not-For Profit Health Organization and UK based Social Enterprise for Breast cancer (Breast Without Spot UK). The BWS project, which was initiated in April 2008, was structured to be implemented in all the states of the federation, in keeping with our mission of, ‘Implementing today’s ‘Safe Breast Practices’ Aggressively On A National Scale To Achieve A Greater Impact.’ Within the first 21 months of operation, BWS touched the lives of more than 25,000 women across Nigeria in real terms i.e. through one-on-one contact, distributed Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials extensively, trained Youth Corpers in 27 states (between March and July of 2009), contributed to re-training of health care providers from 31 states, trained medical students from 13 of the 32 medical schools in the country, templated production of cancer awareness activists in Isi Uzo LGA in Enugu State (June 2008), established cancer control capacity building collaborations with different UK/American research centres and medical teams, championed successful advocacy to policy makers/opinion molders. Efforts to produce an Action Medical Team in each state for delivery of Mobile Screening/Vaccination Services to the communities, was kick started in a joint workshop in April’08 in Abuja, by Sub-Saharan African Cervical Cancer working group, BWS, 1st lady’s office and GSK. In August 2009, awareness campaigns were carried out in 4 community churches and Cervical screening, utilizing the PAP’s smear, was delivered to 186 women from one of the community churches. The 2009 International Cancer Week- ICW (26TH -29TH of October) which was a novel idea of BWS, targeted to launch and herald a high profile nationwide two-year campaign on ‘Eradication of Late Presentation of Breast and Cervical Cancers in Nigeria and Africa,’ called: THE NATIONAL PINK CANCER CAMPAIGN: Say No! to Cervical and Breast Cancers.’ This was brokered to The Federal Ministry of Health and other stakeholders. It was a whole week of activities starting with: • a cancer walk in about 6 state capitals and Abuja.. 7-9am on the 26th of October • a charity dinner/Variety night … 7pm on the 26th of October • 2 conference days and one workshop. 27th-29th The wife of the President of Nigeria, Hajia Dr Turai Umaru Yar’Adua, and the Grand Patron of this National Pink Cancer Campaign was present at the event, as well as the Minister for Health and Minister of state for Health. Following, the conclusion of the ICW, a decision was taken by all stakeholders for the ICW to become a yearly National event and Prof. Okoye was nominated to be the chairman of the Local Organizing Committee of the ICW. The 2010 ICW is scheduled for Saturday 23rd to Thursday 29th of October at the International Conference Centre, Abuja Nigeria. Thus The International Cancer week was conceptualized to provide a platform to create national awareness, education and interaction in the strategies to prevent the 40% of cancers which evidence exists that are preventable and also provide training and skills to improve the practice and science/research of Oncology in Nigeria, with a focus on the peculiarities of the socio-cultural and economic needs of the country… and by so doing provide leadership for Africa. The week also created an opportunity to review all the work NGOs, both local and international, have been doing in pursuance of the goal of improving cancer prevention and control in Nigeria. The two year NATIONAL PINK CANCER CAMPAIGN: Say No! to Cervical and Breast Cancers.’ having been launched, concerted efforts are currently being made to sustain an un-precedented National/International Media Campaign and reaching women one-on-one in their urban and rural grassroots communities. The later is being achieved through capacity building, producing foot-soldiers at various levels in (27 states already)to ensure grass roots mobilization/awareness. Foot-soldiers being produced include; Youth Corpers, Medical Students, Healthcare Providers as advocates/service providers and rural activists in the 774 LG (produced through the activities of the advocates in collaboration with LG chairman.. this was effectively done in Abia state in early December 2009). SUMMARY OF BWS INITIATIVE ‘AN EXCERPT’ BWS’s advocacy tries to break through the socio-cultural barriers that contribute toward late presentation of women with breast and cervical cancer, through capacity building and sustained public awareness. The later is targeted to reach women, one-on-one right down from urban to grass roots, through creation of an army of advocates and community activists. In Abia State, early Dec 2009, BWS partnered with the 1st lady of Abia State, to stage a two day state -wide Cancer awareness ``campaign that touched the lives of over 3,000 men and women. 200 women were screened for early detection of Cervical Cancer by Visual Inspection method (By a team of Gynaecologists from University College Hospital Ibadan), Screening of 100 men for prostate cancer by PSA estimation and digital rectal examination ( by a team of Urologists from Abia State Teaching Hospital, and ‘Clinical Breast Examination CBE” of 500 women and finally training of 5 delegates each, from each of Abia State’s local government. BWS trained youth corpers as ‘Cancer Prevention Advocates’ in 27 states last year, and in March 2010, they trained over 1,500 youth corp cancer prevention advocates in 21 states of the federation. This latter group, like their counter parts, last year, will pass on the cancer prevention message to grassroots communities where they are posted. They lead advocacy to community policymakers and peer leaders, and thus are given access to speak to women groups, women of faith based organizations, and secondary schools. The advocacy and awareness talk target both gender, thus increasing male awareness and knowledge of the two cancers and how they can support their spouses, sibs and mothers to be more proactive with early detection methods. These youth corp advocates have innovatively formed Cancer Prevention Clubs in secondary schools. This year 2010, BWS also produced a publication titled, ‘Training Manual for NYSC Cancer Prevention Advocates’ and also commissioned a popular theatre production with the theme, ’Cancer: Early Detection Saves Life’. This drama when produced will be taught to the ‘Cancer Prevention Advocates’ to assist them with passing on their message in the communities. BWS also arms them with an effective referral system and follow up system, for those who have positive BSE findings and who recognize any symptoms. BWS has been forging partnerships with different organizations, including school authorities and Faith-based leaders who have access to large population groups, to leverage and increase their awareness/screening outreach. • Involved in several Humanitarian Community and Social works on the cause of improving health/social care delivery to the populace. Have received several honors and awards from Rotary, Medical Women’s Associations, Nigerian Association of Women Journalists and Religious Organizations. Awarded an ASHOKA FELLOWSHIP as a Social entrepreneur/change-maker because of Innovative work with AGCPN. Christian and sunday school teacher and love to excercise and take up healthy options in diet