Farooq Oreagba, Managing Director of NG Clearing Limited and investment banker, shared his journey with cancer and his involvement in the Ojude Oba Festival in an interview with ARISE NEWS. Oreagba, who has been living with incurable bone cancer since February 2014, discussed how the diagnosis transformed his perspective on life.
“From the moment I was diagnosed with cancer, my priorities changed. Family became my top priority because I didn’t know how much time I had. By God’s grace, I’m still here 10 years later,” said Oreagba, 58, who now finds fulfillment in counseling other cancer patients. “If I could live another 20 years, I would say being diagnosed with cancer was the best thing to ever happen to me. It changed my perspective on life.”
Oreagba recounted his treatment journey, including a bone marrow transplant in August 2014 and eight years of chemotherapy. Now in remission, he no longer undergoes chemotherapy and is living his best life, actively participating in work and charity, including running marathons to raise money for cancer charities.
Reflecting on his social circle, Oreagba noted, “I was a senior executive at the Exchange back in the early 2000s with many friends. After my diagnosis, my circle shrank significantly, teaching me the importance of holding friends close and being true to oneself.”
Oreagba also discussed the Ojude Oba Festival, a significant cultural event in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, that he has been involved in for 15 years. He emphasized how the festival, and others like it, could boost Nigeria’s economy if supported with proper infrastructure and government efforts.
“Ojude Oba has evolved over the years and is a family affair for us. It’s not just about one individual but brings families together. Festivals like this can grow tourism and the economy, but the government needs to invest in infrastructure and accommodations to attract more visitors,” he said.
Oreagba’s striking appearance at the festival, featuring traditional attire and visible tattoos, earned him the title “King of Steeze” on social media. He explained his tattoos, saying, “They represent my life’s philosophy and my children. One reads, ‘I live each day as if it were my last, so don’t judge me. Carpe diem.’”
Born in Ijebu Ode in 1966, Oreagba attended Ijebu Ode Grammar School and Kings’ College, Lagos, before pursuing higher education in the United Kingdom, where he earned degrees in Combined Engineering Studies from Coventry University and Business and Finance from the University of East London.
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