Position: President Elect

Prof. Olusegun Isaac Alatise has been a Professor of Surgery at the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, and a Consultant Surgical Oncologist and Gastroenterologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex, both at Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria. He had his Surgical Oncology training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA. He is a beneficiary of many international training fellowships in Endoscopy, Hepatobiliary and Colorectal Surgery. He has attended numerous national and international meetings as a resource person and is a member of several national and international organizations in his area of interest. He is a leader and a trainer in Oncology and Gastroenterology in Nigeria. He co-chairs the AORTIC SIG in Clinical trials. He has served as the Vice President, West Africa, for 4 years. He has served and is serving in leadership roles in some national and international organizations.

He co-founded the African Research Group for Oncology (ARGO) in 2013. The group runs a clinical database and biobank for colorectal, breast, cervical, sarcoma, and HBP cancers. He is a member of the Lancet Oncology Commission on Global Cancer Surgery. He is also a Co-PI on multiple funded prospective studies on colorectal and breast cancer in Nigeria. He has trained over 40 General Surgeons, many of whom are interested in Surgical Oncology. He has also mentored many surgeons outside Nigeria. He has over 190 publications in peer-reviewed journals and 5 chapters. He has also received both local and international meritorious awards.

Motivation
I have served on the AORTIC council for 4 years, and also served as the chair of the Clinical Trial for 8 years. I believe AORTIC can be more impactful, funded better, and bring everybody to the table to tame the scourge of cancer in Africa. Together we can win.

Dr. Hannah Ayettey is a graduate of the University of Ghana Medical School and a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at the National Radiotherapy Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Centre, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana. A Fellow of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, she has served in various leadership positions including Training Coordinator at that Centre, Project Coordinator on the IAEA RAF 0655 TC Project, and a member of the Advisory Board of the African Cancer Coalition. She was Faulty Secretary and, currently, Faculty Chair of Oncology and Radiotherapy at the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons

Her research/Clinical interests are in Breast, Head and Neck, GIT cancers, and in Precision Oncology.

Hannah is a member of a number of international oncology organizations, including AORTIC, ESMO, ASCO and ASTRO. A member of AORTIC since 2013, Hannah was among the first batch of the African Cancer Leaders Institute (ACLI) program. In 2020/2021, she chaired the Planning Committee for the first Virtual Cancer Genomics Conference in Africa organized by AORTIC. She is a member of the Cancer Genomics special interest group. Currently, she is the Secretary General for AORTIC.

In Ghana, Dr. Ayettey had served as Vice President and President for the Breast Society, in the period 2018 and 2024. She led the society to provide coordinated medical and social interventions for improving standard outcomes of breast cancer care in Ghana also integrating cancer survivors into the society.

Hannah is an elder of the Faith Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.

Motivation
Being Secretary General for AORTIC for four years, I am motivated to work to expand international networks to improve patient care, research, and funding further. To that end, team-building, scaling-up engagement with the AU, and engaging cancer societies world-wide, would be prioritised. I will invest in AI to improve efficiency.

Dr Peter Waziri is a life science researcher who completed his PhD in 2017 (University Putra Malaysia) in Medicinal Chemistry/Cancer Biology. In the last 8 years, he has focused on the chemotherapy of cancer cells using natural products from plants. Previously, he demonstrated the use of clausenidin crystals (novel pyranocoumarin from Clausena excavata) for the treatment of liver and colon cancer cells. The findings were published in BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Presently, his team is investigating the anti-prostate cancer effect of jobelyn supplement from red guinea corn (jan dawa). The supplement has shown promise in 3 prostate cancer patients attending clinic in Kaduna State University Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, Nigeria. Moreso, he has graduated 5 MSc students and currently co-supervising 2 PhD candidates in cancer research.

He is the coordinator of Anti-Cancer Research Group of the same University. In 2020, his team won a national research grant (TETFUND-NRF) to do a preclinical studies on some local herbs and compounds for potential use in the treatment of cancer and the project was completed in 2023.

Dr Waziri is a computer literate and familiar with common desktop and statistical packages, reason why he was recruited to teach under- and post-graduate students Biostatistics.

Dr Waziri is an active sportsman who plays football and badminton in his leisure. At moment, he specializes in cancer and molecular biology research in Kaduna State University. He is a team player who wants to contribute his quota to cancer research in Africa.

Motivation
The office of the president-elect is an exalted office marked by sheer service and commitment. The position will enable me to serve this noble organization and contribute to cancer research that will help mitigate the burden of cancer in Africa and beyond. I will give in my best should present the opportunity present itself.