Nigerian economist Pat Utomi reveals battle with cancer

Respected Nigerian political economist, Pat Utomi, has spoken out about his struggle with cancer.

Mr Utomi, 67, said he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2022 as he joined in leading the presidential election campaign of the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi.

“I am moved this dawn of light to confront an epidemic under the carpet with great harm to men. Prostate cancer is bringing death and misery to many men,” he tweeted early Friday.

He said he needed to speak out to encourage others dealing with a disease he said was becoming an epidemic to men above 60.

“Did not see why it was taboo to say you were in a battle with Cancer. The more I talked about it the more I found many of my age in similar circumstances. It almost seems like an epidemic for Nigerian men over 60. Not talking makes them lose the benefit of early detection,” he said.

– Smuggle out from the back

Mr Utomi is a professor of political economy and management at the Lagos Business School.

He founded the Centre for Value in Leadership and the political party, African Democratic Congress, upon which he contested the 2011 presidential election. He has served as a presidential adviser.

The economist said after his diagnosis last year, he began receiving medical care with a cancer centre in Ikeja and Victoria Island in Lagos but was surprised at how healthcare workers tried to shield his condition.

– Reducing stress level

“When a biopsy showed I was positive last year I began treatment with a cancer Centre with a branch in Ikeja and VI. I sometimes came from election campaigns to the Ikeja Centre near the Airport. The doctors would try to smuggle me out from the back. The well-known shielded?” he tweeted.

Mr Utomi said he is receiving care from relatives and medical experts abroad now and he has been advised to control his stress level.

“Once elections were over my young nephews and cousins, Doctors in Europe and the US, joined forces with the Lakeshore people and decided they wanted me in their direct care. That’s how come it seemed I went quiet cause they controlled my phones to reduce stress,” he wrote.

Prostate cancer was the leading male cancer type in Nigeria in 2018, and constituted 29.1% of all male cancers, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer.