World Cervical Cancer Day: Nigerian Scientist Champions Global Precision in Cancer Diagnostics and Research

By Fadekemi Ajakaiye

As the world observes World Cervical Cancer Awareness Day, voices across continents are calling for renewed dedication to prevention, early diagnosis, and equal access to lifesaving care. Among those leading this effort is Bolaji Gideon Oladapo, a Certified Medical Laboratory Scientist and Biomedical Scientist whose work bridges Nigeria and the United Kingdom in advancing cancer diagnostics and research.

From the laboratory benches of Wythenshawe Hospital, University of Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, to collaborative studies in Nigeria, Oladapo has dedicated his professional life to cancer research refining tissue-processing techniques that sharpen diagnostic accuracy and studying how health-system barriers affect access to screening and treatment. His work blends scientific precision with human empathy, ensuring that innovations in the lab directly benefit real patients and families.

“Every accurate diagnosis begins with a well-processed tissue sample,” Oladapo says, his tone calm but deliberate. “Histotechnology might not be the part of medicine people see, but it’s the backbone of cancer care. When we get the processing right, we give doctors the clarity they need to save lives.”
His research has consistently focused on cancer biology and diagnostic innovation, with a strong emphasis on cervical cancer a disease that still claims more than 300,000 women globally each year, mostly in low- and middle-income countries.

Oladapo co-authored the study “Utilization of Cervical Cancer Screening Services and its Predictors among Health Workers in Hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria,” published in the Journal of Community Medicine and Primary Health Care. The study revealed a startling truth: even among healthcare professionals, perceived barriers to access were one of the main reasons many had never undergone screening. The research called for urgent reforms in health education and service delivery to make screening both accessible and approachable for women everywhere.

“If doctors and nurses face challenges getting screened, imagine what ordinary women go through,” Oladapo reflects. “That changed how I see my role as a scientist. It’s not just about testing samples, it’s about fixing the systems that determine who even gets tested in the first place.”

At Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester, Oladapo contributed to refining tissue-processing and staining protocols that improve diagnostic clarity for cancers of the cervix, breast, and lung. These quality-assured methods are now part of ongoing efforts to align diagnostic standards across Europe and Africa.
“Science should connect behavior, biology, and systems,” he adds. “Whether it’s smoking cessation or cervical cancer prevention, the principle is the same prevention saves lives.”

Oladapo holds dual credentials as a Certified Medical Laboratory Scientist and Biomedical Scientist. He is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), United Kingdom, and a member of the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS). To him, these recognitions represent more than professional milestones. They are symbols of accuracy, ethics, and an enduring commitment to global collaboration.

“A tissue sample processed in Abuja should meet the same standard as one in Manchester or Boston,” he emphasizes. “That’s how we build trust in global cancer data and ensure that care is fair and effective, no matter where a patient lives.”

Looking ahead, he envisions a future where digital pathology and artificial intelligence make international collaboration seamless. “Imagine uploading a histology slide in Lagos and having it reviewed in real time by a consultant in London or New York,” he says. “That’s the promise of modern pathology and it’s histotechnologists who will make it possible.”

As the world recommits to the goal of eliminating cervical cancer, Oladapo’s message remains deeply human. “Cervical cancer is preventable,” he says softly. “We already have the science, the tools, and the knowledge. What we need now is the will to make sure every woman—wherever she lives can access them.”