Korede Abdullah in Lagos
An overwhelming number of Ado-Odo/Ota residents of Ogun State participated in the 2025 Prostate Cancer Awareness and Screening exercise, held at the local government council secretariat on Friday.
Organized in observance of World Cancer Day by Covenant Applied Informatics and Communication Africa Centre of Excellence (CApIC-ACE), Covenant University, in collaboration with the Prostate Cancer Transatlantic Consortium (CaPTC) and Beulah World Initiative (BWI), the event aimed to raise awareness and provide free screening.
Centre Leader of CApIC-ACE, Prof. Emeka Iweala emphasized the organization’s mission to train African scientists in cancer research and to disseminate vital health information. “We have empowered over 2,000 community members with scientific information to understand prostate cancer,” he said, stressing the importance of early detection.
Medical experts at the event reiterated the necessity of regular screenings, particularly for men above 40 years old. Prof. Iweala urged attendees to be proactive about their health, stating, “Screening for prostate cancer may find cancer early so that affected men can begin treatment before it spreads.”
Medical Officer of Health in Ado-Odo/Ota, Dr. Bakare Adediran, emphasized the life-saving potential of such screenings. “Prostate cancer could be fatal if not detected early and treated appropriately,” he warned.
The large turnout was seen as a testament to the growing awareness about the disease, with many residents taking advantage of the free screenings to check their health status.
Founder and Coordinator of Beulah World Initiative, Chichi Ononiwu expressed satisfaction with the turnout, noting that the awareness campaign was making a significant impact. “The turnout was a great improvement from previous campaigns, showing that more people are becoming aware of the need for screening,” she said.
The initiative received commendation from Hon. Wasiu Lawal, Chairman of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, who assured continued support. Community members also praised the effort, with Mr. Olaegbe Abidemi, a civil servant, stating that the screening gave him peace of mind.
With over 150 residents screened and counselled, the event was deemed a success, reinforcing the importance of early detection and continuous public health outreach.
