Founder of Word of Life Bible Church, Ayo Oritsejafor, has opened up about his private battle with cancer and the treatment he underwent abroad.
In videos shared online and on his Instagram page, the former president of the Christian Association of Nigeria revealed that he deliberately kept details of his illness away from many church members while receiving treatment.
Although he did not disclose the exact type of cancer, Oritsejafor said he spent several months undergoing treatment and bed rest, with medical expenses reportedly exceeding $120,000.
According to the cleric, he continued attending church programmes and carrying out ministerial duties despite being in severe pain.
“I was in pain, but I was still doing my best for God. There was cancer in my body. I was laughing, I was smiling,” he said.
The pastor disclosed that doctors in the United States informed him that the cancer had spread to other parts of his body, leading to additional medical tests to determine whether it had reached his bones.
He explained that after initially returning to Nigeria and attending a church programme known as Jubilee, he had to travel back abroad because the pain became unbearable.
According to him, doctors later confirmed that the cancer had not spread to his bones, after which treatment began immediately.
Oritsejafor also recounted developing a serious infection during treatment, revealing that doctors initially struggled to control the condition.
He said plans for another surgery were eventually cancelled after an elderly doctor advised against it and instead recommended another round of antibiotics.
The cleric stated that the treatment later worked and his condition gradually improved.
He further disclosed that strict precautions were in place during his hospital stay, with visitors required to wear protective clothing before entering his room due to the infection risk.
According to the pastor, he eventually recovered after spending about four months receiving treatment in the United States.
