By Justina Auta, NAN.
The Okapi Children Cancer Foundation (OkapiCCF) has intensified efforts to curb rising childhood cancer mortality through a targeted school-based awareness campaign across the Federal Capital Territory, officials said Monday in Abuja.
Ms Kemi Adekanye, Founder and Chief Volunteer of OkapiCCF, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja, outlining progress achieved so far in 2026.
Adekanye said the foundation reached no fewer than 2,198 students across 15 schools between January and March, tackling late diagnosis of childhood cancer through sustained early awareness initiatives nationwide in Nigeria.
According to her, the campaign equips young Nigerians with life-saving knowledge on early warning signs of childhood cancer, a crucial factor that significantly improved survival rates when detected promptly and treated.
“Too many children are lost simply because the signs were not recognised early.”
Adekanye warned trend persists across communities, urging immediate action through expanded school awareness programmes nationwide to reverse outcomes.
“This is preventable. By taking awareness directly into schools, we are turning students into first responders within their homes and communities,” she said, emphasising community vigilance and early reporting nationwide efforts.
She said the intervention recorded a peak awareness level of 49.40 per cent among participating students, indicating measurable progress in knowledge and understanding of childhood cancer signs across targeted schools overall.
She said awareness sessions were held across schools and communities including Lugbe, Wuye, Jabi, Karu, Mabushi, Dutse, Apo and Kubwa, teaching early symptom recognition and differences between childhood and adult cancers.
She added that the effort helped dispelled myths and stigma, while encouraging students to seek prompt medical attention and share accurate information within families and communities for wider preventive impact across Nigeria.
“This is bigger than one organisation. It is a national responsibility.” Adekanye said.
She called for stronger government, partner and stakeholder support to expand the initiative nationwide and reach underserved communities effectively.
“With thousands reached and many more to go, OkapiCCF is positioning awareness as a powerful tool in the fight to improve survival rates for children with cancer in Nigeria,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that OkapiCCF is a non-profit organisation focused on improving childhood cancer outcomes through awareness, advocacy and treatment support, working with schools, hospitals and communities nationwide. (NAN)
