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  • How I survived breast cancer 27 years ago – Betty Akeredolu 

    How I survived breast cancer 27 years ago – Betty Akeredolu 

    In commemoration of World Cancer Day 2025, themed “United by Unique,” Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, widow of former Ondo State Governor, has shared her personal journey as a breast cancer survivor.

    Anyanwu-Akeredolu revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer 27 years ago at the age of 44. 

    Rather than attributing her illness to spiritual causes, she relied on her education and mindset to seek medical treatment at the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan.

    She stated early detection at stage 1, timely medical intervention, and lifestyle changes for her survival. 

    She adopted a healthier diet by avoiding sugary drinks and starchy foods while incorporating vegetables, smoothies, and regular exercise into her routine.

    Beyond her personal battle, Anyanwu-Akeredolu underscores the importance of emotional support and community. 

    Read Also; Immigrants should wait 15 years for British citizenship – Kemi Badenoch

    She founded the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) to provide a platform for survivors to connect, share experiences, and raise awareness about breast cancer.

    She wrote on X: “World Cancer Day 2025: Theme: United by Unique

    “My story: My experience with cancer is a mixed grill, of triumph and lately of grief, having defeated breast cancer 27 years ago and just over a year, on December 26, 2023, I lost my husband, Aketi, to prostate cancer. For this conversation, I will tell my story to inform, inspire and empower the public to take action against cancer as an individual or as a community. To begin with, the major thing that saved me from untimely death at the age of 44 was my mindset or belief. I didn’t believe that my cancer was caused by anybody let alone by the spiritual attack. So I didn’t go to church or spiritualist, I went to University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan. My educational status also enabled me to figure out that cancer is a medical issue, nothing more. I was right! Doctors at UCH handled my case and if I may add, I presented early at stage 1 of the disease. No lymph node was affected, I got to know the implications as I began to read voraciously some medical publications on breast cancer such as Cochrane publications etc.

    “As I read more and attended international conferences, I understood that my longevity after cancer diagnosis depended on my lifestyle. Looking at my children then and how young they were, I was determined to do everything in my power to live in order to raise them. If stopping drinking coke and other minerals, swallowing eba, pounded yam, amala and akpu would prolong my life knowing that starchy foods and sugar fuel the growth of cancer, so be it. That was exactly what I did. I stopped drinking minerals, no “swallow” and no bread since 2000! My food includes the following: veggies, smoothies, green tea, lemon and ginger tea, beans, moimoi, fish, chicken, snail, occasional rice and zobo drink. Exercise especially jogging, a flagship activity of BRECAN organised during Pink October also became part of my healthy lifestyle.

    “Connecting with people especially those with shared experience is critical in bringing emotional support in the cancer journey. It is one of the reasons behind the founding of BRECAN. We now have a community of breast cancer survivors named Team Survivors Nigeria (TSN) for psychosocial support among members and to showcase that breast cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence. Today, I’m proudly a 27-year breast cancer survivor, thriving and still counting.”

  • Netizens blast Betty Akeredolu for referring to Nigeria as zoo

    Netizens blast Betty Akeredolu for referring to Nigeria as zoo

    Former Ondo First Lady Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has come under attack for referring to Nigeria as “a zoo country that is beyond redemption”.

    Akeredolu on Wednesday made comparisons between Nigeria’s presidential election and that of the United States via her X account.

    She wrote: “Just thinking. 2023 Nigerian Presidential Election Total Votes Cast: 25 million Counting Duration: 5 days.

    “2024 U.S Presidential Election Total Votes Cast: 155 million Counting Duration: Approximately 10 hours

    “Moral: When dishonesty is prioritised, simple things become difficult.”

    After the tweet garnered massive reactions from netizens, she chose to react to a particular comment from one Paulexy with the handle @paul_oza.

     @paul_oza wrote: “Truth is indeed bitter. I can understand the attacks on her. We are doomed in this country Nigeria”.

    Replying to the comment, the widow of the former Governor wrote: “Very bitter indeed! Who will rescue Nigeria? What a zoo country”.

    However, netizens did not take calling Nigeria a zoo country lightly with her to raining abuses

    CitizenOlu wrote: “Tribal Bigot Betty strikes again… using the same language as her beloved IPOB terrorists! This i***t benefitted from the country she abused as the wife of a governor in Ondo state! This same woman’s husband refused to hand over power to his deputy while sick because of her hunger for political power”-

    Iyo Obietonbara @sankofa360 said: “That a country has challenges doesn’t make it a zoo, especially when the country afforded you with the education and opportunities that has made you who you are.

    “To refer to Nigeria with that word means you are a dimwit. An ingrate, who intends to pull down this country with your words, by causing the youths to lose hope in the country.

    Read Also: Betty Akeredolu’s unfulfilled dream

    “If this Republic is what you called it, it also means the state you and your husband governed is part of the jungle. Your attempt to use Ethnic hate/bigotry on those who are calling out your foolishness is lame.

    Khone @kingkhone4real said, “You are just embarrassing yourself and your late husband. You are a beneficiary of a failed system. You and your husband contributed to the ruins. Nonsense”.

    For Diekololaoluwa @YeyeOba001 said,“One thing I know is that if Rotimi Akeredolu comes back to this world again with his right senses, he will distance himself from you and people like you.

    “Late Rotimi made you relevant in life, but all you do is drag his name in the mud and disrespect his memories daily with your uncouth utterances. You need to do better.”

    Lẹykìí@Olalekanakogun said, “Zoo country? Same country your husband was SAN, NBA President, and went on to be Governor for close to 8yrs. “Èé de bẹru Ọlọ́run, ìyá wá. This was “below the belt” for a country that made you”Former First Lady of Ondo state, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has come under attack for referring to Nigeria as “a zoo country that is beyond redemption”.

    Mrs. Akeredolu had on Wednesday made comparisons between Nigeria’s presidential election and that of the United States via her X account.

    While making the comparisons, she called Nigeria a zoo country.

    She wrote: “Just thinking. 2023 Nigerian Presidential Election Total Votes Cast: 25 million Counting Duration: 5 days.

    “2024 U.S Presidential Election Total Votes Cast: 155 million Counting Duration: Approximately 10 hours

    “Moral: When dishonesty is prioritised, simple things become difficult.”

    After the tweet garnered massive reactions from netizens, she chose to react to a particular comment from one Paulexy with the handle @paul_oza.

     @paul_oza wrote, “Truth is indeed bitter. I can understand the attacks on her. We are doomed in this country Nigeria”.

    Replying to the comment, the widow of the former governor wrote: “Very bitter indeed! Who will rescue Nigeria? What a zoo country”.

    However, netizens did not take calling Nigeria a zoo country likely with her to her with abuses

    CitizenOlu wrote: “Tribal Bigot Betty strikes again… using the same language as her beloved IPOB terrorists! This i***t benefitted from the country she abused as the wife of a governor in Ondo state! This same woman’s husband refused to hand over power to his deputy while sick because of her hunger for political power”-

    Iyo Obietonbara @sankofa360 said, “That a country has challenges doesn’t make it a zoo, especially when the country afforded you with the education and opportunities that has made you who you are.

    “To refer to Nigeria with that word means you are a dimwit. An ingrate, who intends to pull down this country with your words, by causing the youths to lose hope in the country.

    “If this Republic is what you called it, it also means the state you and your husband governed is part of the jungle. Your attempt to use Ethnic hate/bigotry on those who are calling out your foolishness is lame.

    Khone @kingkhone4real said, “You are just embarrassing yourself and your late husband. You are a beneficiary of a failed system. You and your husband contributed to the ruins. Nonsense”.

    For Diekololaoluwa @YeyeOba001 said,“One thing I know is that if Rotimi Akeredolu comes back to this world again with his right senses, he will distance himself from you and people like you.

    “Late Rotimi made you relevant in life, but all you do is drag his name in the mud and disrespect his memories daily with your uncouth utterances. You need to do better.”

    Lẹykìí@Olalekanakogun said, “Zoo country? Same country your husband was SAN, NBA President, and went on to be Governor for close to 8yrs. “Èé de bẹru Ọlọ́run, ìyá wá. This was “below the belt” for a country that made you”

  • Betty Akeredolu’s unfulfilled dream

    Betty Akeredolu’s unfulfilled dream

    The tenure of Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu as the First Lady of Ondo state will be etched in the memory of the residents. Mrs. Akeredolu who always regarded herself as an activist, recently completed her final official duties by meeting with the members of the Ondo State House of Assembly.

    It was the first meeting with the lawmakers after President Bola Tinubu resolved the political imbroglio in the state. The Assembly was already divided over the political crisis.

    At the meeting, Mrs. Akeredolu urged the Ondo Assembly to unite and work in the interest of the state.

    Her words: “I want you all to cooperate and operate as brothers and sisters. It is a good thing that necessary constitutional provisions are operative as we now have an Acting Governor in place. The hitches of the last few months notwithstanding, I am here to encourage you to do your best to ensure that the state moves forward.

    “As a very vital arm of the government, I have invited you for a ‘meet and greet’, to interact with you and encourage after a fairly long interval. It’s a time that we all would agree has been turbulent. My concern, however, is that we should United and be ready to move forward. It is important that you keep doing your best in the interest of the state so that this administration can end on a good note.”

    Many politicians saw her meeting with the lawmakers as a ploy to mobilise support for her husband. This was because she was viewed to have great political influence on her husband. In an interview, Mrs. Akeredolu said her husband never consulted her in making key decisions. Mrs. Akeredolu was viewed in Ondo as more of a politician than a wife.

    A breast cancer survivor, Mrs. Akeredolu founded the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) an NGO through which she mobilises support for breast cancer victims as well as carries out advocacy for breast and cervical cancer prevention. As Ondo’s First Lady, Mrs. Akeredolu introduced several initiatives to support and empower women and the girl child. She introduced the Forum of Wives of Ondo State Officials (FOWOSO) and Be More.

    Read Also: Imo: Betty Akeredolu spices up Senate race

    Fondly called the digital First Lady, her greatest desire was for her husband to build a world-class cancer treatment centre in the state. This dream did not come to fruition as her husband, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu died of cancer.

    According to her, “It is one legacy I would like this Arakunrin administration to leave behind because when you know what breast cancer patients go through you will that the cancer treatment centre is something that is imperative. They can have their surgery and chemotherapy but they don’t have the radiotherapy machine. They have to go to Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja. It is terrible. When they think about this, they opt to die in their house.

    “If you have all the protocols in cancer treatment you will be there closer and accessible. The proposal is for the centre to the sited in Owo. Some people had reasoned that it is a federal hospital but it is Ondo people that will be treated. It is good to have people who are knowledgeable in making decisions in certain areas.

    “If I wasn’t there to let them know this is workable, you begin to see this unnecessary friction. I am delighted that the CMD then understood. FMC will be upgraded. You will have more people coming to Ondo State. That is medical tourism. It brings development to the area. Arakunrin is bent on it.”

    “However, through Be More boot camp that was launched in 2017, Mrs. Akeredolu has empowered many female students in secondary schools. The girls were trained on ICT, and solar technology as well as breast cancer and cervical cancer education.”

    Speaking on how she changed Ondo women, she said: “The wives of the political appointee are on a step ahead in the social ladder by their husband’s position. Many of them didn’t know that. I tried to let them know they could use that position to bring about change in their immediate community. Initially, there was resistance.

    When I got here, the pré occupation of most Ondo women especially those politicians was rice, beans, Ankara and transport money that is not more than N1000 or N500 and they were happy. They will come to the government house and clap and go. I started but there was resistance. There were attacks and campaigns of calumny.

    They said it was not done like that and started comparing me with other First Ladies but I told them those First Ladies are analogue. I am a digital First Lady. I am happy today that I was not wrong in the decision. I continued despite all the criticism. When I got here, they didn’t own a smartphone but today I do not think there are any of those women who do not own a smartphone because we are on WhatsApp. That is self-improvement and self-advancement. We started talking about what the women can do to improve their income. One of the reasons women face subjugation is lack of money. They lack economic power.

    A woman should be able to have a source of income. Why fold your arms and expect every kobo to come from your husband? It is erroneous for anybody to believe that if your wife has economic power, it will lead to disrespect. It is not true. It makes the marriage work. The man will live longer. If your wife has a source of income even if it is feeding she takes care of it. We need to educate our men to understand these things. We started with the training of Ondo women in different skills. They began to realise their potential. I know two of them who bought a car because of the skill acquisition in shoe making and bag making. We are very proud of them. Those doing make-up and tying gele, are making money in their communities. We didn’t just train them we also gave them the tools. Those of them responsible enough have put good use of what they learnt. We even gave out hundreds of grinding machines.”

    On where Ondo women would be in 2023 when she will be leaving office, she said, I am a public health professional. I deal with figures. I have always had a bigger picture for women. I believe women can be more. I believe there are hidden potentials in women that society fails to exploit. We will discover and then let them excel.

    There is a remarkable improvement in Ondo State women’s self-awareness. This self-awareness of the environment is what I didn’t see when I got here. I met little awareness. They were not empowered. That self-awareness is very critical for our women to rise and we are on the right path. I never gave up when everybody descended on me. 

    They told me it is their husband who leads while they saw me as the one leading my husband. It was funny because I was pointing out the truth and how we can build a better society. Today many of them are aspiring from the grassroots. I told them they need to be at the table to make decisions. You cannot be outside clapping and singing. You cannot make any effect.”

  • Akeredolu’s wife offers maternity kits to indigent pregnant women

    Wife of the Ondo state governor, Mrs Betty Akeredolu has identified gender inequality as bane of development in the country.

    She noted that though gender equality is a great catalyst for sustainable development, women continue to live as second class citizens in a male-dominated Nigeria.

    Mrs Akeredolu who spoke in Akure, the state capital during the 2019 International Women’s Day lecture noted that the inequality lapses was the reason why the country has not made substantial progress in national development.

    At the event, maternity kits running into several thousands of Naira were distributed to expectant mothers from across the state.

    The founder, Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) said gender parity gap was even worse in developing countries where cultural norms and traditions spelt out well constructed gender-biased system.

    However, she noted that to change the narrative, effort should be made towards empowering women.

    According to her” in the wake of the gender-parity realities in the state, the Forum of Wives of Ondo State Officials and Female Political Appointees (FOWOSO) has been working tirelessly to improve the socioeconomic status of women in the state.

    Read Also: Akeredolu hails Ondo residents over peaceful polls

    She disclosed that thousands of women across the 18 local government areas in the state have been empowered with skills acquisition, empowerment items, and health information.

    Mrs Akeredolu said even though FOWOSO has been the major group galvanizing actions for the elevation of status of women in the state, she however maintained that the quest for gender equality was not the responsibility of women alone.

    She said” We must all take our stand against traditions and norms that discriminate against women.

    The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the governor on Women Affairs, Mrs Titi Adeyemi called for equal opportunities for women to participate in decision-making.

    Mrs Adeyemi noted that the 2018 International Women Day was unique in the state because of new innovations of Public Lecture and distribution of Maternity Kits to Indigent expectant mothers across the 18 local government areas.

    The Lecture entitled” Inspiring Women for greater inclusion was delivered by Prof (Mrs) Helen Ogunsuyi of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).

  • 400 school girls trained on breast awareness in Ondo

    No fewer than 400 school girls have received training on breast awareness in Ondo State courtesy of a non-profit organisation Emerging Communities Africa and BRECAN founded by wife of Ondo State governor, Betty Akeredolu.

    The awareness, which coincided with a hackathon pitch competition, was powered by Access Bank.

    On why it becomes necessary, Akeredolu said, “awareness is the entry point to solving the menace of breast cancer in our society.

    “You need to know what you’re dealing with before the disease can be treated. We should all take home the message that breast cancer no longer kills. It no longer kills when it is detected early.”

    She challenged the nation to take advantage of the different means provided by ICT to spread news on how breast cancer can be detected and cured.

    She stressed the needs to translate information on breast cancer into Nigerian languages to foster grassroots and rural awareness.

    Co-founder, Emerging Communities Africa, Kitan David, stated that 35 teams from the nation participated in the pitch competition with the grand finale in Akure, Ondo State.

    The initiative started with a baseline survey to check for the level of awareness amongst women of breast cancer as well as the simple techniques they can use for self-examination.

    The girls proceeded to participate in an essay competition, which produced five winners, winning N25, 000 scholarships for the 2018/2019 academic session and a back-to-school pack.

    Team Bossom Heart from Benin City, Edo State, emerged champions with their idea of using artificial intelligence based mobile and web application that provides diagnostics and preventive support on breast cancer to women with the ability to sync with smart wearables for effective diagnosis.

  • Akeredolu’s wife launches birth registration initiative

    Akeredolu’s wife launches birth registration initiative

    The wife of the  Ondo State governor, Mrs Betty Akeredolu,  has launched the Accelerated Birth Registration (ABR) programme in collaboration with the wives of traditional rulers in the 18 local government areas  of the state.

    Launching the initiative on Thursday in Igbara-Oke,  Ifedore Local Government Area, Akeredolu said ABR would  develop an active communal participation at  the grassroots, alleviate the sufferings of the people and proffer effective solutions to the challenges in healthcare services and data management.

    She said the programme would feature the direct involvement of wives of traditional rulers (Oloris) in the state to bring healthcare to women, children and people of the state.

    Operating under the aegis of Olori Connection, she said “the programme would ensure that newly born babies are registered without unnecessary bureaucracy that had been created over the years.

    “Olori Connection programme will enable children born in the particular community to be registered through the wives of traditional rulers in those communities.

    Read Also: Mrs Akeredolu urges women to be involved in active politics

    “We want to involve the Oloris who will cooperate with us and with the help of Akowe Abiye in the community, we  will collect all the data and take them  to the Oloris.

    “The Oloris will in turn take them  to National Population Commission  to get the original birth certificates of the children and the records will be taken to the Local Government Areas to help to understand the intervention needed in any particular area from the government.’’

    Akeredolu said the records put together will ensure the success of the maternal, child, adolescent, health and nutrition mandates of the government.

    The Olowa of Igbara- Oke, Oba Adefarakanmi Agbede, lauded the efforts of Akeredolu, promising that the community would support the programme to ensure its success.

    Agbede urged residents of the community to cooperate with concerned stakeholders in the implementation of the initiative.

    NAN

  • Mrs Akeredolu urges women to be involved in active politics

    Mrs Akeredolu urges women to be involved in active politics

    The wife of the Ondo State governor, Mrs Betty Akeredolu, has advised women and youths to be actively involved in partisan politics to enable them play leadership roles in the country.

    Akeredolu gave this advice on Friday in Akure at the inauguration of the Forum for Wives of Ondo State Officials ( FOWOSO ).

    According to her, the aim of creating FOWOSO is to develop and execute programmes that will build the capacity of women and youths.

    She advised women to change their mindsets of limiting themselves to the homes but aspire to become breadwinners of the families as well.

    According to her, this is where FOWOSO will become relevant; we cannot sit back and expect government to champion these causes.

    “We owe it to ourselves and children to ensure that we are effectively developed to take up the challenge and make a useful impact on the economy.

    “We have to play our part in preparing our women to be effective leaders in the economic sector of the country,’’ she said.

    In a remark, Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu, lauded members of FOWOSO for supporting his wife since the inception of his administration.

    According to the governor, women’s role in economic growth has grown to the point, where it becomes a loss to the society to segregate them from economic activities and decision making process.

    FOWOSO is an initiative of the governor’s wife, established for children and women in the state.

    The forum is also established to give free medical check-up for women as well as give economic empowerment to selected women in the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.

    The empowerment includes the distribution of sewing machines, hair dryers, grinding machines, gas cylinders and cash gifts.

    NAN

  • Akeredolu’s wife urges Child Rights Act implementation

    The Wife of the Ondo State Governor, Mrs Betty Akeredolu, said she would partner with relevant institutions in advocating the implementation of the Child Rights Act.

    Akeredolu said this on Thursday in Akure in a message to the 10th Anniversary of the enactment of the Ondo State Child Rights Law.

    The governor’s wife was represented by the Wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs Ajewole Ajayi.

    She urged all stakeholders across the state to assist the government in protecting the rights of the child physically, emotionally and psychologically from any form of abuse.

    Akeredolu said that anyone caught using children for immoral purposes, hawking, and trafficking would be sanctioned and prosecuted in the Family Court.

    She appreciated the late Ondo State Gov., Dr Olusegun Agagu, for signing the Child’s Rights Act into law.

    Akeredolu noted that the Act specified the rights of the child, duties of parents, government and care-givers.

    “Ondo State Government, in recent years, has rendered services in consonance with the Child Rights Act, aimed at enabling every child to develop his or her talent and potential in a climate of peace, equality, and respect for human dignity.

    “The present administration will strengthen its effort toward partnering with Non-Governmental Organisations, law enforcement agencies, community leaders, religious institutions as well as the media to advocate for the rights of the child in Ondo State,” she said.

    In a remark, the Director, Child Department, Women Affairs and Social Development, Mr Oluwaniyi Ogunleye, said the Child Rights Act was enacted in the state on March 23, 2007, to protect the rights of children and assist them to develop and become responsible adults.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that awards were presented to people who contributed to the enactment of the law, including a posthumous award to the late Agagu.

     

  • Good times for Betty Akeredolu

    Betty Akeredolu’s story is like that of the poor orphan girl nobody wanted to associate with but magically transformed into a ravishing beauty whom kings and princes travel long distances just to catch a glimpse of the unassuming wife of Ondo governor-elect Rotimi Akeredolu has drawn a lot of attention since her husband won the governorship race in Ondo State.

    Her newfound fame is not unconnected with the thinking that as the wife of the governor, she would have the power to influence political appointments and contract awards to those who are smart enough to become her friends and associates. Her new status also means an automatic upgrade to what she eats, drinks, wears and uses, hence top designers and jewellers have been falling over themselves to get noticed by the pretty Igbo woman with the hope of securing juicy supply contracts.

    If the premiere was a spectacular affair, it was nothing in comparison to the after-party at the famed Honeymoon Bay where guests jiggled and swayed graceful hips well into the night.