Omolara Akanni: Nigeria Must Make Cancer Care a National Health Priority

In light of Nigeria’s increasing cancer mortality and growing concerns about limited public awareness and early detection, Omolara Akanni—an experienced data analyst with a background in fintech and operations—has urged the country to elevate cancer prevention and treatment to a national priority. A Chemical Engineering graduate of the University of Lagos, Akanni conducted a comprehensive Cancer Data Analysis in Nigeria from 2009 to 2016. She spoke exclusively with Sunday Okobi about the drivers of cancer spread, preventive strategies, and the urgent need for sustained awareness campaigns. Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Data Analytics and Visualisation at Morgan State University in the United States, her work focuses on translating complex datasets into actionable insights that can shape policy, business decisions, and public understanding.

From your data collection and analysis on cervical and prostate cancer in some states in Nigeria, what do you see or perceive as the causes of the disease?

My research examined cancer cases reported across selected Nigerian states between 2009 and 2016. I approached this as a data analyst rather than a medical professional, so the causes I discuss are derived from the medical literature that informed my project. For cervical cancer, the primary cause is a persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Other contributing factors include early sexual activity, multiple partners, smoking, and a weakened immune system. The data show that Nigerian women aged 45 to 60 were most affected, suggesting a long period of undetected disease that a routine Pap smear could have identified earlier. Prostate cancer is closely linked to age, family history, and lifestyle factors such as obesity, a diet high in red and processed meats, and a sedentary routine. Men of African descent are statistically more likely to develop the disease, and the dataset reflected this, with prostate cancer being the most diagnosed cancer among Nigerian men, especially in the 65‑to‑75 age group. Beyond biological factors, I see two cultural realities that quietly fuel both diseases in Nigeria: silence—women rarely discuss reproductive health and men often avoid prostate checks due to discomfort or pride—and limited access to vaccination, screening, and routine check‑ups. These gaps allow cancer to thrive.

What is your suggestion on how the government, via the Ministry of Health and other public health agencies, can help curb the deadly disease?

The Ministry of Health and other public health agencies can make a substantial impact by treating cancer as a national priority rather than a niche concern. Prevention should be the first focus, and that means making it free and accessible. The HPV vaccine can prevent the majority of cervical cancers when administered to girls aged 9 to 14. An Instagram awareness survey I conducted during this project found that 53 percent of respondents had not received either the HPV or cervical cancer vaccine—a gap that can be closed. Free vaccination campaigns in schools and primary healthcare centres, along with subsidised Pap smears for women and PSA tests for men over 50, would alter the landscape in a few years. The second priority is awareness, which must reach people in their own languages through radio, television, social media, markets, and religious centres, rather than only in English-language journals or hospital posters. The government should also update the national cancer registry, because the most recent comprehensive public record I accessed covered 2009 to 2016. Accurate measurement is essential to combat the disease. Subsidising treatment, expanding cancer centres across the six geopolitical zones, and training more oncologists would also prevent a diagnosis from becoming a financial disaster or a source of hopelessness for ordinary Nigerian families.

As an expert in this field, how will your survey or research help fight the prevalence of the disease in these states, and what is your overall piece of advice to victims of cancer?

I aim for my work to provide a clear, honest picture of the situation and to make the numbers relatable. Charts and dashboards can have a quiet power: when a woman sees that breast cancer most commonly affects ages 35 to 45, she may perform a self‑examination this week. When a man sees that prostate cancer peaks after 65, he may bring the topic up with his father or uncle. My Tableau visualisation and accompanying Instagram survey were never intended to replace clinical research; they were designed to spark curiosity, encourage screening, vaccination, or sharing of information. If even a fraction of people in these states act on the insights, future registry figures will look different.

To anyone currently fighting cancer or supporting a loved one, remember that a diagnosis is not the end of your story. Early detection offers high survival rates: breast cancer detected early has an 86 percent five‑year survival rate; prostate cancer detected early sits at 99 percent; and cervical cancer at 60 percent. These statistics are not abstract; they motivate continued treatment, proactive questioning of doctors, and community support. Cancer is a heavy burden on its own, so do not add silence to it. Talk to family, join a support group, and care for both body and mind. For those who have not yet been diagnosed, the most powerful action this year is to book a check‑up. Early detection remains the strongest weapon available.

What drew you to this project in the first place? Why cancer?

The catalyst was a single headline: Nigeria records over 120,000 new cancer cases each year. That figure stayed with me. I kept asking how many of those people recognized warning signs in time, how many had access to screening, and how many were quietly losing their lives because no one had told them cancer could be survived. That question drove me to create a tool that could present the numbers in a way people could feel. As a data analyst, visualisation is my strongest language. I wanted to turn official records into a clear, interactive dashboard and pair it with a simple Instagram survey. Even one additional person booking a check‑up, taking a vaccine, or sharing what they learned would be a success. That was the sole goal; anything beyond that is a bonus.

How did you introduce the project to your Instagram community in May 2024, and what did your Instagram awareness survey reveal that worried you most?

Several survey results shocked me. Fifty‑three percent of the women who responded had received neither the HPV vaccine nor the cervical cancer vaccine, meaning more than half were unprotected against a largely preventable disease. Thirty‑two percent could not recall the last time they performed a breast self‑examination, and another six percent had not done one in the previous year. On the men's side, 40 percent had not received the Hepatitis B vaccine—a key risk factor for liver cancer—and a small percentage did not even know what the vaccine was. Forty‑four percent of all respondents said they do not exercise regularly. These figures come from women who chose to respond