Medical experts have raised concerns over the growing risk of cardiovascular diseases among young Nigerians and the prevalence of prostate cancer among men, urging the public to take regular medical checks and early diagnosis more seriously.
The experts gave the warning at the 2026 Arise Women Conference, where discussions focused on cardiovascular health, prostate cancer, sickle cell disease, children’s upbringing, women’s empowerment and community development.
A cardiologist, Dr Jane Ajuluchukwu, warned that cardiovascular diseases were claiming lives across different age groups, including young people, while Professor of Urology Rufus Ojewola advised men aged 40 and above to seek professional assessment for prostate cancer.
Speaking at the event, Ajuluchukwu cited the World Health Organisation’s global estimates on cardiovascular disease, which she said accounted for approximately 17 million deaths annually. She noted that sudden deaths represented a significant proportion of the burden.
“The trend is increasing. It is because the risk factors are increasing. And what is worrisome is that many people who are dying suddenly are young,” she said.
She explained that sudden death generally referred to an unexpected, non-violent death occurring within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms. Deaths occurring within an hour, she added, were more likely to be linked to cardiac causes.
The cardiologist identified high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, elevated cholesterol and physical inactivity as major risk factors for cardiovascular complications. She also highlighted enlarged heart conditions and warned people with a family history of sudden death to take their health more seriously.
According to her, individuals whose close relatives died suddenly before the age of 50 should be particularly cautious and seek appropriate medical evaluation.
Ajuluchukwu also said men were more likely than women to experience sudden cardiac deaths, particularly as they grew older. She urged Nigerians, especially those approaching or above 40, to make routine health assessments a priority.
She attributed some men’s reluctance to seek medical attention to cultural expectations that encourage them to appear strong even when experiencing health problems.
The cardiologist urged men who spend considerable time providing for their families to pay attention to their own wellbeing rather than postponing medical appointments.
She listed possible warning signs of a heart attack to include chest discomfort, unusual tiredness, fainting and pain spreading to the jaw or arm.
She cautioned against assuming that unusual chest or abdominal discomfort was necessarily caused by an ulcer, explaining that heart attack symptoms did not always appear as severe chest pain.
Ajuluchukwu advised Nigerians to monitor their blood pressure and blood glucose levels, follow prescribed treatment and seek medical attention when they experience unusual symptoms.
She also highlighted the importance of recognising stroke symptoms, including facial drooping, weakness in the arm and difficulty speaking, stressing that anyone experiencing such signs should receive emergency medical attention. She identified 112 as Nigeria’s emergency number.
On prostate cancer, Ojewola warned that the disease could develop without obvious symptoms, making early medical assessment important, particularly for older men.
Speaking on the topic, Beyond the Prostate: What Every Man Should Know About Sexual and Urinary Health, the urologist identified age, race and family history as important risk factors.
He noted that prostate cancer was particularly prevalent among Black men and that the risk increased considerably with age.
“Prostate cancer is rare below the age of 40 years, but after 40 years, the incidence of prostate cancer increases exponentially. The higher the age, the higher the risk that one will develop prostate cancer,” he said.
Ojewola explained that early detection could significantly improve treatment outcomes, adding that treatment options included surgery, radiotherapy and minimally invasive procedures, depending on the patient’s condition.
“If discovered at the early stage and treated at the early stage, it is curable,” he said.
He encouraged men to discuss appropriate screening and assessment with qualified medical professionals, including prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood testing, scans and physical examinations where indicated.
The professor also addressed misconceptions surrounding prostate cancer, dismissing claims that having multiple sexual partners, contracting sexually transmitted infections or ejaculating a particular number of times weekly directly caused or prevented the disease.
He further explained that erectile dysfunction could be associated with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol.
Urinary difficulties, he added, could have several causes, including urethral strictures, bladder infections and stones. He urged men experiencing sexual or urinary problems to seek medical attention rather than dismissing them as normal consequences of ageing.
Also speaking at the conference, the Director of the Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria, Dr Atilade Akinshete, highlighted bone marrow transplantation as a potentially curative treatment for eligible people living with sickle cell disease.
Akinshete said Nigeria recorded an estimated 150,000 births involving children with sickle cell disease annually, while approximately 100,000 children with the condition reportedly died before their fifth birthday.
She attributed the high mortality burden partly to limited awareness, delayed diagnosis and inadequate management, arguing that early detection and appropriate treatment could improve survival.
“There is a cure for sickle cell, which is done here in Nigeria. Up until now, nobody knows that we have a cure for sickle cell,” she said.
She disclosed that the foundation had a partnership with Vanderbilt University Medical Centre to provide the treatment.
Explaining the procedure, she said bone marrow was obtained from a donor and transplanted into an eligible patient. She also presented photographs showing the progress of a patient approximately 18 months after undergoing the procedure.
Akinshete encouraged affected families to contact the foundation for information about available treatment options and eligibility.
She explained that sickle cell disease was an inherited condition that develops when a child receives the relevant disease-causing genes from both parents.
Symptoms can include severe pain, anaemia, weakness, jaundice and swelling of the hands and feet. She also warned that complications such as acute chest syndrome and stroke could become life-threatening without urgent medical attention.
The foundation director advocated genetic counselling, screening and early diagnosis to help families understand their risks and ensure that children living with the condition receive appropriate care.
Beyond the health discussions, the convener of Arise Women, Pastor Dr Siju Iluyomade, called on women to pursue transformational leadership and develop initiatives that deliver lasting benefits to their communities.
Speaking on the conference theme, Impact, Iluyomade said meaningful change required intentional action, courage and a willingness to challenge existing limitations.
“The impact we seek to have must be transformational; it must be monumental, and it must be unstoppable,” she said.
She described the organisation’s 18th anniversary as an opportunity to encourage participants to move beyond temporary charity towards sustainable interventions that empower individuals and communities.
Using an analogy about teaching people to fish, Iluyomade argued that humanitarian work should equip beneficiaries with the skills and resources to become self-reliant.
She highlighted Arise Women’s interventions in rural communities, including its adopted village project in Zamfara State, where the organisation has supported the construction of schools, healthcare facilities and libraries.
She also said the initiative had introduced technology and improved access to healthcare, claiming that no woman had died during childbirth at its facilities in the past 18 years.
Recalling an intervention in another rural community, Iluyomade said residents had requested a school, leading her to seek support from a benefactor who subsequently provided a 14-classroom facility with water, drainage, electricity through a generator and boreholes.
She listed the organisation’s programmes to include the Arise Walk for Life, mobile clinic, adopted village project, Back-to-School programme, vaccination centre, Mass Foundation, Master Class, Skills Acquisition Academy, conference and insurance scheme.
Iluyomade urged women to turn their ideas into practical projects capable of improving the lives of others.
“Stop the talk. Do something about it. Do something meaningful, and do it for other people,” she said.
Former Flutterwave Chief Executive Officer Iyin Aboyeji also addressed the conference, urging parents to give their children a strong spiritual foundation rather than concentrating only on their material needs.
Aboyeji attributed much of his personal and professional development to the Christian values instilled in him by his parents, who are the current overseers of Prospect Church.
He said growing up within the church’s 40-year heritage had influenced his values and approach to life.
“The most important thing you can give your children is the Lord. The most important thing you can give your children is Jesus,” he said.
He encouraged parents to establish spiritual practices in their homes from an early age, recalling that his family maintained morning devotion throughout his childhood.
Aboyeji said he had continued the practice with his own daughter and urged parents to demonstrate their beliefs through their actions.
He also encouraged them to teach children to seek God’s direction when confronted with difficult situations, while developing gratitude and humility over their achievements.
At the conference, the Christian Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Lagos State Women’s Wing, honoured Iluyomade for her contributions to humanitarian service, women’s empowerment and Christian ministry.
A representative of the fellowship said the recognition celebrated her 18 years of service through Arise Women, particularly its interventions in healthcare, education and community development.
“We did not come to honour a woman; we came to honour a vision that has refused to die,” the representative said.
The citation praised Iluyomade’s work in underserved communities, highlighting projects involving healthcare facilities, boreholes, education and support for vulnerable residents.
Receiving the award, Iluyomade dedicated the recognition to the organisation and its members.
“I receive this award on behalf of Arise, on behalf of Arise Women,” she said.
The 2026 edition of the conference marked 18 years of Arise Women’s activities and brought together medical professionals, business leaders, religious figures and other participants to discuss health, family life, leadership and sustainable community development.
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