Nigeria: In Abuja, the Okapi Foundation makes early detection its battle against childhood cancer

In Abuja, the Nigerian Okapi Cancer Foundation marched on September 27, 2026, alongside families, caregivers, and cancer survivors for its tenth anniversary, reports Africanews. The slogan for this Okapi Children Cancer Walk 2026 centers on one idea: in Nigeria, as elsewhere on the continent, childhood cancer is treatable when detected in time.

Founded by Oluwakemi Adekanye, the organization claims to have supported more than 250 children with cancer and raised awareness among thousands of students and residents across the country. "We go into the neighborhoods, into the remote corners, to engage people," explains Dr. Ikenna Igbodika, a member of its team, as quoted by Africanews.

A survival gap that is not natural

The figures from the World Health Organization measure the scale of the injustice. Each year, approximately 400,000 children and adolescents aged 0 to 19 are diagnosed with cancer worldwide. In high-income countries, more than 80% of them survive; in low- and middle-income countries, less than 30%.

This gap is not due to the biology of the disease but to the organization of care. The WHO points to five causes of avoidable deaths: lack of diagnosis, misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, difficulties in accessing treatment, treatment abandonment, and the toxicity of care. It also notes that only 29% of low-income countries report broad access to childhood cancer medicines, compared to 96% of high-income countries.

The institution has set a goal: to increase the survival rate to at least 60% by 2030, which would represent one million lives saved over the decade.

Including children in the health budget

This is where the political demand raised in Abuja lies. For Oluwakemi Adekanye, progress will depend on the effective implementation of the public health fund and the inclusion of pediatric oncology in its financing. As long as a child's treatment relies on their family's finances, a diagnosis becomes an economic sentence as much as a medical one.

Among the marchers, Hope Tobi, a survivor, summarized the spirit of the day: "The walk was exciting because with every step we take, there is hope for the children," reports Africanews.

Nigeria has the youngest and largest population on the continent. Making early screening a routine in primary health centers, rather than a chance reserved for informed families, would change thousands of life trajectories there.