Following the rising rates of cancer-related deaths in Nigeria and growing concerns over inadequate awareness and early detection, Omolara Akanni, a data analyst with years of experience working across fintech and operations, has called for stronger national attention to cancer prevention and management. A Chemical Engineering graduate of the University of Lagos who conducted a Cancer Data Analysis in Nigeria from 2009 to 2016, Akanni spoke exclusively with Sunday Okobi on the causes and preventive measures against the spread of cancer and the urgent need for sustained awareness campaigns. Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Data Analytics and Visualisation at Morgan State University, United States, her work focuses on translating complex datasets into practical insights that influence 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 focused on cancer cases reported across selected Nigerian states between 2009 and 2016. To be transparent, I approached this as a data analyst, not a medical practitioner. So, while the data clearly show where the burden is heaviest, the causes I will speak to are drawn from the medical research that informed my project. For cervical cancer, the leading cause is a persistent infection with the human papillomavirus, commonly known as HPV. Other contributing factors include early sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, smoking, and a weakened immune system. What stood out for me in the data is that Nigerian women between the ages of 45 and 60 were the most affected, which points to years of an undetected condition that a simple Pap smear could have caught much earlier. Prostate cancer, on the other hand, is closely tied to age, family history, and lifestyle factors such as obesity, a diet heavy in red and processed meats, and a sedentary routine. Men of African descent are also statistically more likely to develop it, and the data reflected this clearly: prostate cancer was the most diagnosed cancer in Nigerian men in my dataset, with the highest concentration between ages 65 and 75. Beyond the biological causes, I believe two cultural realities quietly fuel both diseases in Nigeria. The first is silence: women are rarely encouraged to talk openly about reproductive health, and men avoid prostate checks because of discomfort or pride. The second is access: vaccination, screening, and routine check-ups are still not part of everyday healthcare for most Nigerians. Cancer thrives in that silence and in that gap.
