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Cancer mortality continues to rise in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with an expected increase from 520 348 in 2020 to approximately 1 million deaths by 2030.1 While there have been recent efforts to improve patient outcomes through oncology research in SSA, there remain several challenges that hinder progress. Africa accounts for only 1.1% of global clinical trials. In SSA, the majority of clinical trials are conducted in South Africa, with few trials in Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia.2 3 Most oncology research in SSA centres around virally induced cancers such as cervical cancer and Kaposi sarcoma, but there are significant discrepancies between incidence/mortality rates and research projects on several types of cancers, including breast, prostate and bladder cancers.4 Given the current challenges in oncology research in SSA, incorporating patient and public involvement (PPI) has the potential to strengthen oncology research by increasing the velocity of research, ensuring relevance, equity and overall impact.