Skitmaker gives voice to Nigerian cancer patients after Ogogo, wife’s death - Punch Newspapers

Popular skitmaker and social media influencer, MC Always, popularly known as Egbon Adugbo, has turned the painful experience of losing his wife to Stage 4 cancer into a campaign for improved healthcare delivery in Nigeria. MC Always recently opened up about his late wife’s battle with cancer and the challenges his family encountered while seeking treatment. In a YouTube video monitored by PUNCH Online on Sunday, the entertainer, speaking during an appearance on TVC, recounted the difficult journey of trying to save his wife and explained why he has chosen to use his platform to advocate for a healthcare system that works better for Nigerians. According to him, his wife’s experience opened his eyes to the struggles faced by many families dealing with serious illnesses, particularly cancer patients and their caregivers. He said, “My wife’s experience opened my eyes to the struggles faced by many families dealing with serious illnesses, particularly cancer patients and those caring for them.” MC Always said his campaign was not simply driven by the pain of losing his wife, but by the wider challenges he encountered while navigating the healthcare system. He said, “This campaign is not just about the pain of losing my wife. It is also about the challenges I encountered while navigating the healthcare system.” The skitmaker raised concerns about access to treatment, the cost of healthcare, medical facilities and the difficulties patients and caregivers face while seeking medical attention. He said the situation became more significant after cancer patients and caregivers began reaching out to him following his decision to speak publicly about his wife’s experience. According to MC Always, “Many cancer patients and caregivers have been calling me and sharing their own experiences with the healthcare system.” He said the calls and messages changed his perception of the campaign, which initially began as a personal decision to speak about his wife’s ordeal. “I started speaking about my wife’s experience, but the calls and messages I began receiving made me realise that this is much bigger than my own story,” he said. MC Always said he now sees the growing number of people reaching out to him as evidence that many Nigerians are experiencing similar difficulties and need a platform to tell their stories. He said, “A lot of Nigerians are going through similar experiences and they need someone to give them a voice.” For him, the campaign has therefore developed into a wider responsibility to draw attention to the experiences of patients and caregivers. 2027: Ogogo was lined up as Ogun tourism, culture special adviser — Yayi Why I returned Ogogo’s N25m after his death — Ogun Imam Private vasities back FG’s plan for 20,000 medical students yearly The entertainer said the stories shared by those contacting him have convinced him that his wife’s experience was not an isolated case. He added, “My wife’s experience was not an isolated case. There are many families going through the same thing, and their stories need to be heard.” He wants the issues raised by patients and their families to become part of a sustained conversation about healthcare delivery in Nigeria rather than generate only temporary attention on social media. The campaign has also attracted attention amid discussions surrounding the cancer battle involving veteran Yoruba actor Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo. For MC Always, such cases highlight the emotional and financial difficulties families can face when confronted with serious illnesses. He believes Nigerians dealing with life-threatening conditions should be able to access timely and quality treatment without having to contend with additional challenges within the healthcare system. “Nigerians should be able to get timely and quality healthcare when they need it most,” he said. The skitmaker is now using his influence to encourage patients and caregivers to speak about their experiences and bring greater public attention to the challenges they encounter. His advocacy represents a shift from his usual entertainment content, placing him at the centre of a broader conversation about healthcare and the experiences of ordinary Nigerians. MC Always said the increasing number of cancer patients and caregivers contacting him has strengthened his determination to continue speaking about the issues. For him, the campaign is no longer only about his late wife. “It is no longer just about my wife. It is about the families struggling to access treatment, the patients facing the financial burden of care and the people who feel they have no platform to tell their stories,” he said. His wife’s death may have prompted him to speak out, but the stories subsequently shared with him by other Nigerians have convinced him that he has a larger responsibility. He now regards the campaign as a calling and an opportunity to turn personal grief into advocacy for a healthcare system that better serves Nigerians. “This has become a calling for me. I want to use what happened to my family to speak for other Nigerians and push for a healthcare system that works better for everyone,” he said. Gilbert Ekugbe Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.

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