* Farooq Oreagba, known as 'Mr Steeze,' revealed his 12-year silent battle with stage one multiple myeloma.
* Despite no family history of cancer and a young family including a two-year-old child, he fought through chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, and eight years of treatment.
On World Cancer Day, February 4, 2026, Farooq Oreagba opened up about the moment that forever changed him.
Exactly 12 years earlier, on February 3, 2014, the Ogun State cultural ambassador and public figure went for a routine scan purely out of caution, not because he felt ill.
A week later, the results delivered devastating news.
He was diagnosed with stage one multiple myeloma, a cancer that attacks plasma cells in the bone marrow.
"The crucial sentence was: ‘The images indicate a high possibility of malignant activity.’ In a nutshell, I was diagnosed with stage one multiple myeloma," Oreagba shared in his reflection, as reported by The Guardian Nigeria.
At the time, there was no known family history of cancer, and his youngest child was just two years old. The diagnosis felt like the world collapsing around him, yet Oreagba chose to fight fiercely.
"Because I was a stubborn guy, I decided that no matter what it takes, I was going to fight this thing, give it my best shot, and see where it goes," he said.
Chemotherapy began soon after, followed by a successful stem cell transplant in August 2014.
On February 4, 2015, exactly one year after sharing his story on World Cancer Day, doctors declared him in complete remission, a milestone he calls symbolic and unforgettable.
The battle extended far beyond that initial victory. Oreagba endured seven more years of chemotherapy, totaling eight years, before finishing treatment in August 2022.
Today, as a prominent figure in Nigerian culture, especially famed for his standout appearances at the Ojude Oba festival, he attends quarterly checkups with a renewed sense of gratitude.
Oreagba uses his platform to inspire others, reminding everyone that routine checks can save lives even when no symptoms appear.
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