Cancer: Blessing CEO rejects calls for apology, says N13m raised

Self-styled relationship and mental health coach Blessing Okoro, widely known as Blessing CEO, has maintained that she has no reason to apologise over the backlash trailing her breast cancer claim.

Speaking during an interview with social media personality Egungun of Lagos, shared on Instagram on Saturday, she dismissed accusations that she falsely claimed to have stage four cancer. She also clarified that she received N13m in donations, contrary to reports suggesting N100m.

“For what? Who did I hurt?” she said when asked to apologise to people who felt misled by her stage four claim.

“I think I’m not a doctor and maybe I just passed the message that a doctor gave to me.”

She suggested that the controversy may have stemmed from a misunderstanding, explaining that the stage four label might have been incorrectly communicated to her.

“Maybe it’s miscommunication because that was what I was told, but I’m also trying to, when you do your biopsy, I want to have different options and be sure of what I’m doing,” she said.

According to her, doctors are yet to determine the exact stage of the illness, noting that further consultations are ongoing.

“I don’t know the stage I am right now because I’ve run all the tests. In a few days’ time I’ll go back to my oncologist and they will be able to tell me the exact stage,” she said.

The controversial personality added that chemotherapy has not commenced, stating that her most recent medical procedure was a biopsy. Recounting how the issue began, she said a lump initially believed to be harmless was later confirmed as cancerous.

“It was a lump. Initially they said it was not cancerous. After a few months when I wanted to take out the lump they now said it is cancerous,” she said.

Okoro also declined calls to release her medical records publicly, insisting they remain private.

“I can’t post my results online. It’s personal stuff,” she said.

Addressing donation claims, she refuted viral figures suggesting she received N100m, insisting the total was far lower.

“I never reached N100 million,” she said.

On potential treatment options, including surgery, she expressed hope that it would not be necessary but prioritised survival.

“We are hoping it doesn’t get to that point, but if it gets to that point, the most important thing is let me be alive.”

She further used the opportunity to promote awareness about breast cancer, encouraging women to routinely examine themselves for early signs.

“As a lady, the most common kind of cancer we have is breast cancer. So please every morning when you wake up always try to check your breast and check if there is a lump,” she said.

Her remarks come as scrutiny over her diagnosis continues to intensify. While her initial announcement attracted sympathy, doubts later emerged due to the absence of verifiable medical proof.

A woman identified as Deborah Mbara has accused her of manipulating medical documents to mislead the public.

In a separate development, businessman Alafaa Kariboye-Igbo, popularly known as Oil Money, claimed he donated N20m and has since issued a legal demand seeking a refund within seven days, threatening further action if the money is not returned.

This is not the first time Okoro has faced public controversy. In 2019, she was involved in a high-profile incident where she falsely claimed ownership of a luxury property, an episode that led to her arrest and eventual public apology.

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