The Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS) has called for an investigation into Blessing Okoro, widely known as Blessing CEO, over allegations that she falsely claimed to have cancer to solicit donations. Bashir Mohammed Ranccas, NCS Director of Publicity, stated on Tuesday that such actions, if confirmed, could erode public trust and harm genuine cancer advocacy efforts. The Society described the incident as deeply unethical and said it plans to involve security agencies in probing the matter.
Okoro reportedly received significant financial support from members of the public following her fundraising appeal. The NCS urged donors to verify the authenticity of medical claims before contributing and advised patients to use only certified platforms when seeking assistance. The organisation warned that misuse of cancer narratives risks discouraging future generosity toward real patients.
The Delta State branch of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) earlier discredited a histology report linked to Okoro, confirming it was altered from a document belonging to another patient with breast cancer. The NMA stated that Xinus Medical Diagnostics in Asaba, Delta State, did not issue any report to Okoro. The facility's proprietor, O.A. Odigwe, a consultant pathologist and NMA member, reportedly reached out to the association after the document circulated online. In a recent interview with Lagos-based influencer Egungun of Lagos, Okoro denied claiming a stage four cancer diagnosis, calling it a "possible miscommunication," and refused to issue an apology.
Blessing Okoro's alleged fabrication of a medical report calls into question the credibility of viral personal appeals on social media. When public figures exploit health narratives for financial gain, genuine patients risk losing access to support. The involvement of the NCS and NMA in disputing the report underscores how easily misinformation can spread even with institutional pushback. Nigerians now face the burden of skepticism when responding to urgent pleas, no matter how real they may seem.
