There is a world of difference in the reality of childhood cancer in the United States than in a country like Nigeria.​ In Nigeria, we are dealing with a population that largely still believes that childhood cancer is not a real disease but a hex, a satanic attack or a parental failing of some sort.
This mentality coupled with the poverty level and a lack of social welfare services means that the hospital may be the last place parents will take their child should they fall sick. The crux of our awareness campaigns in Nigeria is to first of all have people believe it is a real disease. This means massive public campaigns. We focus on demystifying the disease and encouraging hospital visits.
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We put emphasis on symptoms and the importance of early detection as an index for better outcome in most childhood cancers. it may seem an uphill task but our flagship program operating presently in 6 Nigerian hospitals is a labor of love and is only possible because of your generosity.
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These children receiving life-saving treatment because of you.
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As our program grows, so does our need for funds. These children's needs extend from life-saving cancer treatments to nutritional foods, transportation from villages and even accommodations at the treatment centers. As we cater to children who have been confirmed to have no means of funding their treatments, sometimes helping them means having to employ these other social determinants of health.
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Please continue to support us so we can sustain the awareness program and get these children into the hospital at the first glimpse of symptoms.
Our Children Presently In Treatment
LOIS
This is Lois. She is 5 years old.
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Diagnosis: Acute Lymphatic Leukemia (ALL)
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Lois is the first recipient of our recently launched "Sponsor a child' Initiative. Our heartfelt appreciation to Dena Sherwood of Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation for being our first sponsor and affording Lois the chance to access uninterrupted care with a $5000 donation.
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She is currently receiving an intensive cycle of chemotherapy following the approved ALL protocol involving a pre-induction, induction and Chemotherapy. Unfortunately, Lois treatment course has been more complicated than expected requiring her to need more funding than anticipated but she continues to received treatment support from us.
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A regular need for platelets and other blood products (several bags a week) makes it a more financially challenging endeavor to keep Lois treatment uninterrupted. Please donate to support Lois
URGENT
URGENT
ELISHA
This is ELISHA. He is 9 years old.
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Diagnosis: Wilm's Tumor (Nephroblastoma)
​When we first came in contact with Elisha, he was receiving chemotherapy for Wilm's tumor with a view to tumor resection surgery. Fast forward a few months later when surgery was due, we encountered difficulty brought on by extended family belief in superstitions which led to a refusal of surgery
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Thankfully, this past August, the mother brought him back to the hospital almost at the brink of death. The medical team swung to action and surgery happened.
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Now he is on the next course of treatment which is to complete the remaining chemo cycles after which scans to be performed to determined next course of action.
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Thank you to our donors who continue to provide the support that makes it possible for the interventions that are saving the lives of these children. Please donate below to keep our mission going.
RAINAT
This is Rainat. She was diagnosed in 2023 and is now 6 years old.
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Diagnosis: Wilm's tumor
Rainiat's situation was very dire when she was introduced to Akanimo cancer Foundation in October 2022. Immediately, we funded her chemotherapy which was quite successful leading to a very successful surgery. Her surgery went very well, all margins ere so clear that the doctors decided not to radiotherapy. She has made significant progress since then.
She recently finished the last chemotherapy and is only visiting for monthly checkups and scans now. This is to help fund her scans, transportation and housing as they are coming from a considerable distance to the hospital.
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UPDATE:
Unfortunately, Rainat relapsed this Past May 2025 and was immediately put back on a more another regimen of chemotherapy fully funded by our PTP. If the tumor responds favorably and without further complications, this treatment would take 2 years to complete.
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URGENT
pethuel
This is Pethuel. She is 4 years old.
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Diagnosis: Wilm's Tumor
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Pethuel was diagnosed in March 2025 when she was taking to the hospital after prolonged fever and abdominal swelling. An ultrasound revealed a a left renal mass and a suspicion of nephroblastoma.
Pethuel was admitted to our Patient Treatment Program as the father, a local shoe cobbler and the mother a petty trader found themselves unable to bear the cost of treatment.
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Pethuel commenced chemotherapy and is to have 12 rounds, surgery according to the treatment plan.
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Pethuel needs support as the family has 3 other children to take care of as they navigate this path
URGENT
azeez
This is Azeez. He is 4 years old.
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Diagnosis: Relapsed Wilm's tumor
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Azeez was first diagnosed in June 2024 and underwent a nephrectomy surgery on July 26, 2024. This was followed by 9 weeks of chemotherapy as part of his post-surgery treatment.
Despite initial progress, a recent CT scan during a follow-up revealed a recurrence of the tumor with metastasis. He has since been readmitted to the hospital in another location where he is currently undergoing another cycle of chemotherapy after which he is to undergo another surgery and then have some radiotherapy sessions in a bid to completely eradicate the disease.
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This journey has placed an immense emotional and financial burden on the family and Akanimo Cancer foundation was contacted during this relapse as the family is incapable of shouldering the financial cost of treatment at this point.
We are committed to doing everything possible to assist this family to ensure their son receives the care he needs, as their need for financial support to continue his treatment is obvious and dire
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​If you would like to support Azeez, Please reach out to us.
URGENT
UMAR
This is Umar. He is 11 years old.
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Diagnosis: Hodgkin's lymphoma with background sickle cell complicated with septic arthritis
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Umar is the latest patient added to our Patient Treatment Program. He is a known pediatric hematology Patient due to his sickle cell. He has completed his course of chemotherapy othis past July after which both knee became swollen.
He had surgery in August and is still unable to walk due to pain.
He is managed on different antibiotics with.a 12 hourly schedule and on rehab.
Once these set of issues resolve, he will have a scan to confirm his remission and subsequent treatment plan going forward.
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​If you would like to support Umar, Please donate below.
URGENT
RICHARD
This is Richard. He is 3 years old.
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Diagnosis: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
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Richard was chronically ill and treated for various diagnosis including malaria and other infections over and over again. from zJuly 2024 up until February 2025 before he finally;ly referred to where the proper investigations could be done that led to a proper diagnosis.
ALL meant chemotherapy needed to be commenced immediately. It also means that he receives several blood products several times a week just to survive. All at an astronomical expense.
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Eventually, it is indicated that Richard is likely to need bone marrow transplant for a complete cure - a procedure not medically available in Nigeria and for which the family has to seek help abroad nd for which we, at the Foundation do not possess the resourced to fund.
The focus at the moment however is to help the family complete the ALL regimen - including the supportive care he requires to thrive.
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Richard needs all the support he can get to be able to survive.
Update:
Richard is responding well to treatment so far. He has completed his Induction 3 chemotherapy phase last week of August and underwent.a bone marrow aspiration . The result came out as positively as everyone hoped for and he is pronounced fit to proceed to consolidation phase which means a chemotherapy regimen that would span about 2 years.
CHILDREN IN REMISSION IN 2025
Deborah
This is Deborah. She was diagnosed in October 2023 at 2 years old.
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Diagnosis: Wilm's Tumor
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Deborah was quite ill when she presented at the hospital and was suspected of kidney tumor. The family lack of funds was a deterrent from confirmatory investigation and Akanimo Cancer Foundation was able to step in and help with that process. Afterwards, Deborah became a recipient under our "Patient Treatment Program".
After some rounds of chemotherapy, her surgery was successfully undertaken and Deborah went on to recuperate without any issues.​ Deborah continues to present to the hospital monthly for evaluation, all costs borne by Akanimo cancer Foundation and she continues to do well. She still needs support for transportation and housing when they visit the hospital for reviews.
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UPDATE: As at June 2025, Deborah is doing extremely well and continues to be in remission (NED) as shown by her last clinic visit
SUMMAYAH
This is Summayah. She was first diagnosed, 2022. Relapsed disease, recurred May 2024.
Diagnosis : Rhabdomyosarcoma of the right eye
We are grateful to Dena Sherwood and Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation for sponsoring Summayah's radiotherapy. ​​Because of this generosity, her treatment is covered and Summayah and her mom only need to cover the expenses of scans, transportation, housing and feeding to make the 6,000 miles journey from her home to the hospital.
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Her condition was dire when our team first met her. She continued chemotherapy afterwards and finally had her last round this December. Her surgery, scans, blood work, post chemo medications, hospital stay and consumables all sponsored by us.​​ The next step in Summayah’s treatment is her Radiotherapy and we are very excited and hopeful that her scans will stay clear at the end of it all. ​
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UPDATE: Summayah's latest scans as at June 2025 show NED (No Evidence of Disease)
URGENT
RICHARD
This is Richard. He is 3 years old.
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Diagnosis: Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
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Richard was chronically ill and treated for various diagnosis including malaria and other infections over and over again. from zJuly 2024 up until February 2025 before he finally;ly referred to where the proper investigations could be done that led to a proper diagnosis.
ALL meant chemotherapy needed to be commenced immediately. It also means that he receives several blood products several times a week just to survive. All at an astronomical expense.
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Eventually, it is indicated that Richard is likely to need bone marrow transplant for a complete cure - a procedure not medically available in Nigeria and for which the family has to seek help abroad nd for which we, at the Foundation do not possess the resourced to fund.
The focus at the moment however is to help the family complete the ALL regimen - including the supportive care he requires to thrive.
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Richard needs all the support he can get to be able to survive.
Update:
Richard is responding well to treatment so far. He has completed his Induction 3 chemotherapy phase last week of August and underwent.a bone marrow aspiration . The result came out as positively as everyone hoped for and he is pronounced fit to proceed to consolidation phase which means a chemotherapy regimen that would span about 2 years.
CHILDREN WE HAVE LOST IN 2025
It is impossible to describe the feeling when one of our kids lose the battle. As people who have experienced this personally, we would not wish it on our worst enemy that is why we continue to fight to create more awareness and more access for treatment for children battling this disease in a country like Nigeria. Our hearts go out to every family, every where suffering the loss of children to cancer. They should be here.
Support the treatment of indigent Nigerian children with cancer. Help us raise Nigeria's childhood cancer survival rate from its present 20% to 50% by 2030 as envisioned by the WHO
We have lost more children than have survived. This year, 2025,
We continue to work towards a world where no child, anywhere dies of cancer.
Contact us and we can answer all your questions.
+1 (864) 405-8680