Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the co-ordinating minister for the economy
and minister of finance, told an awe-struck audience on Thursday how she
survived cancer in the United States, some 18 years ago.
“I underwent treatment for three years. I had surgery, did chemotherapy and radiotherapy. I had the last surgery 15 years ago and I was declared cancer-free. I am a cancer survivor,” she said.
She did not disclose the type of cancer that she survived.
The minister spoke Thursday night while paying tribute to Oronto Douglas, President Goodluck Jonathan’s special adviser on research and strategy who died from cancer-related complications on April 9, 2015.
The finance minister said: “Oronto and I had something in common: we both had cancer.”
She said she encouraged Douglas to be strong as he battled till the very end.
Silence and shock enveloped THISDAY Dome, Abuja, the venue of the night of tributes organised by Douglas’ friends and associates as she narrated her story.
At the tributes night were the secretary to the government of the federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who represented the president; Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti state and Tunde Bakare, senior pastor of Latter Rain Assembly.
Also present were Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former EFCC chairman; DSP Alamieyeseigha, former governor of Bayelsa state whom Douglas served as a commissioner between 2004 and 2005.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala continued: “I told Oronto to fight for his life. Despite the cancer, he continued to work hard. That is the part of him I want to remember, not the weight loss.”
Douglas was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2008 and initially given six months to live, but a new specialist gave him treatments that prolonged his life for seven years.
His weight loss had become very obvious in the last two years, but he battled on and kept working late nights, according to President Goodluck Jonathan.
During his last visit to his doctor in March, Douglas was told he had only three weeks to live because the complications had gone beyond remedy, Jonathan revealed on a condolence visit to the family a day after his death.
He died exactly three weeks after.
“I underwent treatment for three years. I had surgery, did chemotherapy and radiotherapy. I had the last surgery 15 years ago and I was declared cancer-free. I am a cancer survivor,” she said.
She did not disclose the type of cancer that she survived.
The minister spoke Thursday night while paying tribute to Oronto Douglas, President Goodluck Jonathan’s special adviser on research and strategy who died from cancer-related complications on April 9, 2015.
The finance minister said: “Oronto and I had something in common: we both had cancer.”
She said she encouraged Douglas to be strong as he battled till the very end.
Silence and shock enveloped THISDAY Dome, Abuja, the venue of the night of tributes organised by Douglas’ friends and associates as she narrated her story.
At the tributes night were the secretary to the government of the federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, who represented the president; Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti state and Tunde Bakare, senior pastor of Latter Rain Assembly.
Also present were Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former EFCC chairman; DSP Alamieyeseigha, former governor of Bayelsa state whom Douglas served as a commissioner between 2004 and 2005.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala continued: “I told Oronto to fight for his life. Despite the cancer, he continued to work hard. That is the part of him I want to remember, not the weight loss.”
Douglas was diagnosed with stomach cancer in 2008 and initially given six months to live, but a new specialist gave him treatments that prolonged his life for seven years.
His weight loss had become very obvious in the last two years, but he battled on and kept working late nights, according to President Goodluck Jonathan.
During his last visit to his doctor in March, Douglas was told he had only three weeks to live because the complications had gone beyond remedy, Jonathan revealed on a condolence visit to the family a day after his death.
He died exactly three weeks after.
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