Oyo Govt, Cancer Coalition Intensify Breast Cancer Awareness Among Secondary School Students

 

… Experts advocate early detection, regular breast checks and prompt medical attention

The Oyo State Government, through the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Oyo State Coalition Against Cancer, has intensified efforts to promote breast cancer awareness among secondary school students as part of activities marking the 2026 Breast Cancer Awareness Month, popularly known as Pink October.

The sensitisation programme, held on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at Oba Akinbiyi Model College, Mokola, Ibadan, featured educational lectures, practical demonstrations on breast self-examination and the administration of questionnaires to assess students’ knowledge of breast cancer, its symptoms and prevention.

The initiative was designed to equip young people, particularly adolescent girls, with essential information about breast health, the importance of recognising unusual changes and the need to seek prompt medical attention.

Dignitaries at the event included the Commissioner for Health’s representative, Dr. Lanlege, a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Apata General Hospital; the Permanent Secretary’s representative, Dr. O.A. Babatunde, Director of Public Health Services; the Director of Nursing Services, Mrs. Beatrice Adeoye; the Principal of Oba Akinbiyi Model College, Mrs. A.M. Adebanji; and the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Desk Officer, Mrs. Christianah Adedeji.

Other participants included the Chairperson of the Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS), Oyo State Chapter, Dr. Foluke Sarimiye; Princess Seyi Oyewale of Amen Houston Hospital and Fertility Medical Centre; Nelson Ekujumi of the Oyenike Oyekan Foundation; Mr. Promise Ihezie of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN); and representatives of Am Beautified Life Foundation and Patela Care Foundation. Teachers, students and media representatives were also present.

Welcoming participants, the Principal of Oba Akinbiyi Model College, Mrs. A.M. Adebanji, expressed appreciation to the organisers for selecting the school to host the annual awareness programme.

She commended the initiative for providing students with an opportunity to acquire essential health information at an early age, urging them to share the knowledge gained with their peers, families and communities.

Adebanji described the students as potential ambassadors in the fight against breast cancer, stressing the importance of spreading accurate information to promote awareness and encourage early detection.

In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Oyo State Ministry of Health, represented by the Director of Public Health Services, Dr. O.A. Babatunde, commended the ministry and the coalition for working together to promote cancer awareness among young people.

He described the programme as a demonstration of the collective commitment to addressing cancer, which remains a significant public health concern, while appreciating partner organisations for supporting the state’s health promotion initiatives.

Delivering a lecture on breast cancer, the Director of Nursing Services, Mrs. Beatrice Adeoye, educated the students on the disease, its symptoms, risk factors and the importance of recognising unusual changes in the breasts.

She also demonstrated how to perform breast self-examination, encouraging the students to become familiar with their bodies and promptly report any unusual changes to a healthcare professional.

Adeoye explained that not all breast lumps are cancerous but emphasised the need for medical evaluation whenever a lump or swelling is discovered in the breast or armpit.

She also identified changes in breast skin and unusual nipple discharge as warning signs that should not be ignored.

Similarly, the Chairperson of the Nigerian Cancer Society, Oyo State Chapter, and Consultant Oncologist at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Dr. Foluke Sarimiye, urged the students to put the knowledge acquired into practice and share it with others.

She reassured participants that a cancer diagnosis does not necessarily mean death, noting that many people survive breast cancer and other forms of the disease, particularly when they are diagnosed early and receive appropriate treatment.

Sarimiye underscored the importance of early diagnosis, regular breast health assessment and timely access to treatment. She also advised the students to seek reliable medical information rather than rely on misconceptions about cancer.

Partners Advocate Wider Awareness

In her goodwill message, Princess Seyi Oyewale of Amen Houston Hospital and Fertility Medical Centre highlighted the association between breastfeeding and a reduced risk of breast cancer.

She encouraged the students to speak openly with trusted adults, including their mothers, aunts, female teachers and school counsellors, whenever they noticed unusual changes in their breasts or bodies.

Other coalition partners urged the students to disseminate the information received during the programme to their schools, homes and communities to strengthen public awareness and promote early detection.

Students Demonstrate Improved Understanding

As part of the programme’s assessment, questionnaires were administered to evaluate the students’ knowledge of breast cancer following the educational sessions.

During an interactive question-and-answer session, the students demonstrated their understanding of several key messages delivered by the resource persons, particularly the importance of recognising breast changes, seeking prompt medical attention and sharing accurate health information.

The interactive session provided an opportunity for the students to clarify misconceptions and gain further insight into breast cancer awareness and prevention.

NCDs Desk Officer Commends Collaboration

The Non-Communicable Diseases Desk Officer and Head of the NCDs Unit at the Oyo State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Christianah Adedeji, expressed appreciation to the ministry’s leadership, the Coalition Against Cancer and participating organisations for their contributions to the success of the outreach.

She emphasised the importance of sustained collaboration between government and non-governmental organisations in advancing health promotion, disease prevention and public awareness.

Adedeji called for expanded partnerships to support interventions across other priority areas of public health, noting that community engagement and early education remain essential strategies for improving health outcomes.

The resource persons and students also commended the Ministry of Health and the Coalition Against Cancer for prioritising adolescent girls in breast cancer awareness efforts.

The programme reinforced the importance of early health education, informed decision-making and collective action in the fight against breast cancer, with students encouraged to become advocates for breast health in their schools and communities.

The successful commemoration of Pink October 2026 was supported by partner organisations, including the Nigerian Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria, Am Beautified Life Foundation, Amen Houston Hospital and Fertility Medical Centre, Patela Care Foundation and Oyenike Oyekan Foundation.

Their contributions underscored the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration in promoting breast cancer awareness, encouraging early detection and strengthening community efforts towards cancer prevention and control.