Project ‘CARES’: DHF Storms Oyo Campuses, Reaching over 1 Million in Massive Cancer Fight

‎‎By Stephen Adeleye

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‎A non-governmental organisation, Dove-Haven Foundation (DHF), has directly reached over 2,200 students and members of staff and more than one million people indirectly through a 10-month cancer awareness campaign and screening services across five higher institutions and their environment in Oyo State.

Dr Ekundayo Samuel, the Executive Director of DHF, who disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday in Lokoja, said the outreaches cemented the foundation’s place as a leading grassroots cancer NGO.

‎The Isanlu-based NGO, headquartered in Yagba West LGA of Kogi State, said it executed Project CARES (Campus-based Cancer Awareness and Rapid Early Screening) from June 2025 to March 2026, to tackle rising cancer cases among young people.

DHF said the demographic is disproportionately hit by lifestyle changes, low cancer awareness, and weak prevention strategies, raising risks of late diagnosis and poor outcomes.

‎The project covered the University of Ibadan, The Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State College of Nursing Sciences, Lead City University, and Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Ibadan.

‎Activities included stakeholder engagement, educational seminars, free cervical and prostate screenings for eligible students and staff, and inter-institutional cancer quiz competitions.

‎It also included media campaigns across print and digital platforms, and the appointment of 50 students and 50 staff cancer advocates, to build sustainable youth-led control networks.

‎The project was implemented with Patela Care Foundation and sponsored by Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) Foundation and Access Bank.

‎Heads of the benefitting institutions thanked DHF for the intervention and urged staff and students to take full advantage of it.

‎They are Prof. K. PO. Adebowale, FAS, mni, VC, University of Ibadan; Dr Gbonjubola Owolabi, Provost, Oyo State College of Nursing Sciences; Dr Taiwo A. Lasisi, Rector, The Polytechnic Ibadan; Dr Adekola Olatunde Owosibo, Provost, FCAH&PT; and Prof. Kabiru Adeyemo, VC, Lead City University.

‎DHF said the community-based interventional project grant marks its third within five years, reinforcing its reputation as a cancer-focused NGO working among underserved populations.

‎“Our strategic base in Isanlu serves as a safety-net for cancer awareness, education, screening, patient support, and referral services,” the Foundation stated.

‎In the past six years, DHF has run school-based and community outreaches and maintained strong digital and traditional media campaigns promoting healthy lifestyles and early detection.

The grand finale was held on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan, featuring a keenly contested inter-institutional cancer awareness quiz, where Lead City University emerged as the winner. All the participating institutions were awarded prizes and given recognition plaques.

‎Speaking at the event, the Executive Director Dr. Ekundayo Samuel, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, said the project reflects DHF’s “continuous story of impacts among underserved communities of Nigeria.” He thanked the grantor for the sponsorship.

‎DHF describes itself as a nascent organisation of passionate professionals volunteering knowledge, financing, and expertise to reduce the cancer burden, especially among rural dwellers and underserved populations.

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