By Ghazali Ibrahim
Controversial relationship and mental health influencer, Blessing Okoro, popularly called Blessing CEO, has insisted she will not apologise amid the backlash surrounding her breast cancer disclosure.
In an interview with content creator Egungun of Lagos, posted on Instagram on Saturday, Okoro pushed back against allegations that she misrepresented her condition as stage four cancer. She also addressed claims about public donations, stating that she received N13 million, not the widely circulated N100 million.
Responding to calls for an apology, she questioned the basis of the criticism, saying she did not intentionally mislead anyone. According to her, she merely relayed information given to her by medical professionals, noting that she is not a doctor.
Okoro suggested the confusion may have resulted from miscommunication regarding her diagnosis. She explained that while she was initially told a specific stage, further medical evaluation is still ongoing to determine the exact status of the illness.
She disclosed that after undergoing several tests, she is awaiting a follow-up consultation with her oncologist, who will provide a definitive assessment in the coming days.
The social media personality also revealed that she has not started chemotherapy, adding that the most recent procedure she underwent was a biopsy. She recounted that the health scare began with a lump that was first deemed harmless but was later confirmed to be cancerous.
Okoro declined requests to make her medical records public, maintaining that such information is private.
On the issue of donations, she dismissed reports suggesting she received N100 million, reiterating that the total contributions fell far below that figure.
Speaking on possible treatment options, including surgery, she expressed hope that it would not be required but emphasised that her priority remains survival.
She also used the platform to raise awareness about breast cancer, urging women to regularly examine themselves for early signs of the disease.
Her comments come amid growing scrutiny over her claims. While her initial announcement drew widespread sympathy, doubts later surfaced due to the lack of publicly verified medical evidence.
Adding to the controversy, a woman identified as Deborah Mbara accused Okoro of falsifying medical documents to deceive the public.
Separately, businessman Alafaa Kariboye-Igbo, also known as Oil Money, alleged that he donated N20 million and has issued a legal notice demanding a refund within seven days, threatening further action if his request is not met.
Okoro has previously faced public backlash. In 2019, she was embroiled in a controversy involving a false claim of ownership of a luxury property, which resulted in her arrest and a subsequent public apology.
