Nigerians came together in a vibrant display of colour, music and movement on World Cancer Day 2026 for the Project Pink Blue awareness walk, race, ride and marathon, united under the bold slogan “Choke Cancer.”
The event, held on Saturday, February 7, started and ended at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, as participants moved through the city in a powerful show of solidarity, hope and action against cancer.
The celebration featured live music performances, a 5km awareness walk, cycling and running races, and an energetic crowd that turned Abuja’s streets into a carnival for a cause.
Organisers also provided free cancer screenings on site, while a fundraising drive raised vital resources to support cancer patients and awareness programs across Nigeria.
High Cost of Cancer Care in Nigeria
Speaking at the event, facilitator Farida Banwo highlighted the crushing cost of cancer care in Nigeria, where many patients face heartbreaking choices.
“A mother might have to choose between getting the next meal or getting her drugs,” Banwo said, explaining how financial hardship prevents thousands from accessing life-saving treatment.
Fortune Osilem, a colorectal cancer survivor, also addressed the crowd, calling for an end to the stigma faced by people living with cancer.
“Cancer can happen to anyone, and it does not prepare you enough,” he said. “If you cannot be nice enough, you can just stay away.”
Cancer Burden in Nigeria
Cancer remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria. Recent data shows the country records over 125,000 new cancer cases every year, with breast, cervical and prostate cancers among the most common.
Many patients are diagnosed at advanced stages, largely due to low awareness, limited access to screening and treatment, and harmful myths that delay medical care. As a result, survival rates in Nigeria remain significantly lower than in Western countries, where early detection and advanced treatment are more accessible.
Experts also note that cancer treatment in Nigeria is largely funded out-of-pocket, with comprehensive care costing millions of naira, placing it beyond the reach of many families.
Participants used the Project Pink Blue World Cancer Day event to call on the Federal Government and private sector partners to increase investment in cancer care. They urged improved budgeting, better diagnostic equipment, more trained specialists, and stronger national cancer control policies.
As Project Pink Blue continues its advocacy, supporters remain hopeful that grassroots action, public awareness and sustained engagement will lead to policy changes and support systems that make cancer care more affordable, accessible and stigma-free across Nigeria.
