About us

NISPO is a body of professional medical practitioners, who are licensed to work in Nigeria, with a predominant interest in the total care of children, adolescent and young adults living with a neoplastic condition.
The society also collaborates with allied health practitioners and trainees participating in an approved training program leading up to a career in pediatric, adolescent and young adult cancer care and research.

Mission Statement

To promote and foster the exchange and diffusion of information and ideas relating to paediatric neoplastic diseases, including biology, epidemiology, diagnosis, staging, treatment, ethics and psychosocial impact of cancer on paediatric patients.

To further the training of all persons in research and in the total care of patients with neoplastic diseases.

To encourage optimal communication between the various specialties concerned with
neoplastic disease and to facilitate the delivery of healthcare.

Brief History of NISPO

The Early Beginnings

In the year 2010, International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) Africa continental meeting took place in Accra, Ghana. A number of Nigerian health professionals working in the Paediatric Oncology space were in attendance. At the end of the SIOP meeting, the Nigerian contingent sat back and held a meeting, in which they made a very strong resolve to form a unified Paediatric Oncology Society in Nigeria. In attendance at the SIOP meeting were Dr Dare Olulana (Paediatric Surgeon), Dr Olabiyi Ogun (Pathologist) and Dr. Biobele Brown all from University College Hospital, Ibadan; Dr Magdalene Odunvbum - University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Professor Theodore Okeahialam - Imo State University Teaching Hospital and Professor Muuta Ibrahim - Amino Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano.

The Inaugural Meeting

In January, 2011 during the 42nd Annual General and Scientific Meeting of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria, which held at Chelsea hotel, Abuja, a group of sixteen (16) Paediatric Oncology Practitioners held a meeting during lunch on 13th January, 2011 and the Nigerian Society of Paediatric Oncology was formed.

Members present at this inuagural meeting were as follows: Dr. Friday A Odey (UCTH, Calabar) Dr. Udechukwu N.P (FMC Abakaliki), Dr. Akinsule (LUTH - Lagos), Dr. Temiye E.O (LUTH, Lagos), Dr. Anthony N. Ikefuna (UNTH - Enugu), Dr Chukwu B.F (UNTH - Enugu), Dr. Oyetoro Enaigbe (GOSH. UK), Dr. Ijeoma Akinwumi (LASUTH, Lagos), Dr. Thomas O. Ulasi (NAUTH, Nnewi), Dr. Frances Okpok o (UUTH, Uyo), Dr. Jacob Nkemdirim E. (UCH, Ibadan), Dr. Ugbo Emmanuel I. (UATH, Gwagwalada), Dr. Ifeoma Emodi (UNTH, Enugu), Dr. Biobele Brown (UCH, Ibadan), Dr. Gracia Eke (UPTH, Port Harcourt), Dr. O Oniyangi (National Hospital, Abuja). Apologies were also sent in from Dr Olufemi G. Ogunrinde (ABUTH, Zaria) and Dr U.M Offiong (UATH, Gwagwalada).
The first executive committee members were elected, and some medical elders were nominated as advisers to the society. Over the years, membership of the society grew to involve nurses, radiation oncologist and members of non-profit organizations.

Registration of the society

Under the dogged leadership of Prof Adebola Akinsulie, the society pursued registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) of Nigeria. This met with many obstacles but eventually, the society was registered as a corporate entity on the 18th day of May, 2022. Members were appointed to the Board of Trustees in line with the provisions for the incorporation with the CAC.

NISPO meetings and Pre-conference (PANCONF) workshops

Since inception, members of NISPO held yearly meetings on the fringes of the Paediatrics Association of Nigeria Conference (PANCONF). At the meeting of NISPO in 2018, it was decided that the society should start holding pre-conference workshops during PANCONF, and the first NISPO pre-conference workshop took place in 2019 at the University College Hospital, Ibadan during the 50th anniversary PANCONF. After each workshop, the Society usually held its Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The NISPO pre-conference workshops have largely focused on reviewing clinical treatment guidelines and updating members on oncologic best practices in order to harmonize practices across the different paediatric oncology centers across the country. The pre-conference workshops and AGMs have since held in Kano (2020), Uyo (2022), Akure (2023) and Lagos (2024).

In due course, it is planned for NISPO to hold its meetings and conferences outside the period of the PANCONF. It is hoped that this would promote membership from other disciplines like paediatric surgery, radiation oncology, Pharmacy, Nursing, e.t.c.

Elections into the Executive Committee (Exco)

From the 2019 AGM onwards, there were several attempts to hold elections into the executive committee but to no avail. There were concerns of a quorum during the 2019 and 2020 AGMs, so congress declined to hold the elections then. In 2021, no AGM held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was not until the 2022 AGM in Uyo, that successful elections were held. Since then, harmonious change in leadership has taken place biennially.