By Justina Auta, News Agency of Nigeria, Abuja

NGO, Okapi Children Cancer Foundation (OkapiCCF) has donated over N39.5 million to selected hospitals in the FCT to bridge gaps in access to quality healthcare for underprivileged children with cancer.

Ms Kemi Adekanye, Founder, OkapiCCF, made this known during the 2025/2026 presentation on Wednesday in Abuja.

The benefiting hospitals include: National Hospital; Federal Medical Centre, Jabi (FMC), and University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH).

Adekanye, while presenting the cheques to representatives of the hospitals, said the donated funds would cover medical expenses for treatment, chemotherapy, radiology and others for the children.

According to her, the foundation was able to raise N39.5 million, 820 US dollars and 20 Euros at its 2025 fundraising for children fighting cancer.

She added that 70 per cent of the amount generated would be allocated for direct treatment of the children, while 30 per cent would be for other childhood cancer interventions.

She explained that the interventions included education scholarship scheme for survivors, psychological support, capacity building and economic empowerment for indigent parents of survivors and for advocacy.

“The National Hospital will be given N11,076,916, while FMC, Jabi and UATH will be allocated N8,307,687 each to support children with cancer.

“Cancer treatment is very expensive and without the financial support of well meaning Nigerians, we will be seeing more abandonment and possibly more deaths.

“We have raised over N39.5 million to support children battling cancer for the 2025/2026 year, which we distributed among National Hospital, FMC, and UATH.

“We have supported children and families battling cancer for over nine years to complete treatment, offered educational scholarships to survivors to further their education,” she said.

Adekanye, while giving the organisation’s breakdown of its nine-year fund raising initiative, said it generated N765,000 in 2017; N1.3 million in 2018; N2.1 million in 2019; N3.2 million in 2020.

She added that N6 million was raised in 2021; N9.6 million in 2022; N15.3 million in 2023; while N30.1 million in 2024 and N39.5 million + 820 USD and 20 Euros in 2025.

While calling for more support to children suffering from cancer, she urged government to subsidise cancer treatment and care cost to enable them access uninterrupted healthcare, thereby reducing mortality rate.

Prof. Sa’ad Ahmed, Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, represented by Dr Ifeoma Ezeukwu, Head of the Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, said the support would ease the financial and emotional burden on the beneficiaries’ families.

“Your generosity and consistent partnership have brought hope, relief, and smiles to our patients and their families.

“This has significantly eased the financial and emotional burden that accompanies childhood cancer diagnosis,” he said.

Dr Uduak Offiong, Paediatrician, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, expressed appreciation to the foundation and the donors for their support to underprivileged children with cancer.

Meanwhile, Mrs Linda Joseph, mother of five-year old cancer survivor, Blessing, said the support enabled her daughter complete treatment for leukemia, despite being abandoned by her husband.

“I just want to thank OkapiCCF for their support, without them, my daughter will not be well and fine today.

“At a point we had to sell all our valuables to pay for treatment and my husband got tired and abandoned me and our other children to start another family afresh.

“But with the help of OkapiCCF, my daughter is fine and has completed her treatment, we only go to the hospital for routine check and monitoring periodically,” she said.

Similarly, Mrs Francesca Austin, mother of three-year old cancer survivor, encouraged parents to seek medical intervention, rather than resort to self-medication or traditional herbs that might compound the risk to the child.

Other activities include the presentation of awards to notable partners and volunteers for their support like Jabi Lake Mall, The Elevation Church, Abuja Lion’s Club; Silver Cross hospital Foundation, Nest of Hope Foundation, amongst others.

NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA