Triumphant Tales: 5 CelebrityNigerian Heroes Conquer Cancer on World Cancer Day

These inspirational individuals have demonstrated to us—and still do—that cancer is curable. Furthermore, a diagnosis does not mean the end of life.

By bravely sharing their tales with the world, they have inspired others to believe that hope never dies.

As a reminder of our progress toward a society free of cancer, they are the focus of today's spotlight.

They are as follows, in no specific order:

Banky W has fought cancer three times. The multifaceted media and entertainment personality was originally diagnosed with skin cancer in 2007 and has subsequently had four surgeries.

After a successful fourth surgery in May 2024, Banky posted a victory message on his Instagram profile.

At Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., in the United States, he is presently working toward a master's degree in policy.
 

Karen Igho, the 2011 Big Brother Africa winner, revealed her cancer diagnosis in 2013 on her X (then Twitter) page.

In the UK, the former reality TV star quickly began receiving treatment. Through her page, she requested for prayers and provided admirers with updates.

In 2014, Karen informed her followers that she was no longer suffering from cancer following a series of treatment sessions. She was cancer-free.
 

After suffering from severe body aches, headaches, persistent coughing, weight loss, and tiredness while performing in Paris, Nwachukwu Ozioko, better known by his stage name Vast, was diagnosed with blood cancer (lymphoma) in February 2013.

Yet, the singer remained optimistic and pursued intensive medical care in the UK, particularly at the Platinum Medical Centre in Wellington, London.

After receiving rounds of treatment at the hospital and receiving confirmation that he was cancer-free, he was released seven months later.

Together with his partner Smash (Obumneme Ali), the singer founded the Bracket Foundation in 2016 to raise money for cancer treatment in Nigeria, particularly for people who cannot afford to travel overseas for treatment.

Vast continues to release tracks with partner. They are set to go on USA tour in 2025

The term "steeze" became synonymous with Farooq Oreagba's name as he entered the Nigerian pop culture zeitgeist in 2024.

His 2024 Ojude Oba Festival appearance unpredictably went viral on social media. His motivational cancer narrative was noteworthy throughout the entire encounter.

In February 2014, the British-educated financial services professional received a bone marrow cancer diagnosis, an incurable type of cancer.

In an interview with Arise TV, Oreagba discussed how his priorities have shifted after receiving his diagnosis.

He is still in the forefront of the fight against cancer and has taken an active part in a number of initiatives to combat the disease.

 

During one of his regular examinations in 2014, the Nobel Prize recipient received a prostate cancer diagnosis.

In an interview with well-known media personality Chude, he revealed that the therapy was awful for him and that he had to drink gallons of water during the course of the procedure.

When he was diagnosed, he assured his wife that they would fight it together, according to the BBC Africa "Cancer In Africa" series.

He treated it with a cutting-edge technique known as proton therapy.