TheCable

Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, incoming first lady of Ondo state, has described her husband as a pillar of support, explaining how he stood by her after she was diagnosed with cancer.

Speaking at an event to mark World Cancer Day, Akeredolu also commended her family members for the role they played during the trying period in her life.

“I had the family support. My husband stood by me all through. That is the kind of support that one needs to come out strong,” she said.

She also spoke on Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), her initiative, and the plans to spread awareness campaign of the terminal disease across the country.

“It’s good to take the initiative to the whole of Nigeria but charity begins at home,” she said.

“You do the much you can in your backyard before moving on to other places. Over the years, we have been focusing more here south-west.”

With Secondary School students at the event

Akeredolu called for that community participation in the fight against cancer.

“Community participation is very important to win the fight against cancer. We must take all that we’ve heard in this programme to the next level,” she said.

“More often than not, we don’t act on information. This must change. I’m challenging you all to put into use all you learned here. I am expecting a healthy rivalry among communities. We must together find solution to this problem.

“Stop waiting for government officials to tell us we have a problem. We are the one to pressure them to act. We must collectively pressure government to come up with strategies to end the challenge of cancer.”