Business and Life: Farooq Oreagba Opens Up About Living with Cancer and His Journey [Video]

Image:X

Farooq Oreagba, a Nigerian businessman and managing director of NG Clearing Limited, recently shared his inspiring story of living with incurable bone cancer for the past 10 years. In an interview on the Arise TV Morning Show, Mr. Oreagba detailed his battle with the disease and the profound impact it has had on his life and priorities.

Diagnosed in February 2014, Mr. Oreagba underwent a bone marrow transplant in August of that year. Reflecting on his treatment journey, he said, “I did chemotherapy 21 days a month for eight years. I don’t do chemotherapy anymore because I’ve put in a lot of weight.” Despite the severity of his condition, he has managed to maintain a positive outlook and continue his professional and personal endeavors.

Mr. Oreagba's diagnosis prompted him to reassess his life priorities. "From the moment I was diagnosed with cancer in February 2014- it’s an incurable form of cancer- your priorities change,” he explained. “You don’t know how much time you’ve got; you line up your list of priorities. For me, family first because I don’t know how long I’m going to be alive. By God’s grace, I’m 10 years and counting.”

Recently crowned “King of Steeze” for his captivating style at the 2024 Ojude Oba festival in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Mr. Oreagba spoke fondly of his long-standing involvement with the event. “Ojude Oba has evolved, and I’ve been doing it for 15 years. My father was the main rider, going back to the early 1960s,” he reminisced.

He also emphasized the importance of his primary job in affording his necessary medication. “I have a primary job which is important because that allows me to afford the medication that I’ve been using,” he stated, highlighting the financial burden that comes with managing a chronic illness.

The businessman also shared how his social circle dramatically changed following his diagnosis. “I was a senior executive at the exchange back in the early 2000s, and prior to that, let’s say I had five million friends. When I left the exchange in 2010, my friends went down to like, let’s say, one million, and went down to a hundred when I was diagnosed with cancer,” he recounted.

Addressing his visible tattoos, Mr. Oreagba raised his sleeves to reveal the messages inked on his skin, including one that reads, “I live each day as if it were my last, so don’t judge me. Carpe diem (seize the day).” He explained that other tattoos symbolize his children and a time when he had numerous friends.

Born in July 1966 in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria, Mr. Oreagba attended Ijebu Ode Grammar School and Kings’ College, Lagos, before pursuing higher education in the United Kingdom. He earned degrees in Combined Engineering Studies from Coventry University and Business and Finance from the University of East London.

Despite the challenges posed by his illness, Mr. Oreagba's story is a testament to resilience and the importance of focusing on what truly matters in life.

Watch the interview below:

Here is Mr Farooq Oreagba,
He is the King of steeze from the last Ojude Oba festival.

What we never knew is this man has incurable bone cancer called multiple myeloma. He had chemotherapy 21days a month for 8years. Wow.

Everyone needs to see this video:pic.twitter.com/eN8y8ESQPr

— #OurFavOnlineDoc 🩺 🇬🇧 (@OurFavOnlineDoc) June 23, 2024

Source: People Gazette

#Farooq Oreagba
#Ojude Oba
#Cancer
#King of Steeze
#Tattoos