Founder of Word of Life Bible Church, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, has revealed that he quietly battled cancer while continuing his public ministry activities despite severe pain and health complications.
The former president of the Christian Association of Nigeria disclosed that he underwent extensive medical treatment in the United States after doctors discovered cancer in his body. According to him, the illness remained private throughout the period as he chose not to speak publicly about his condition.
Speaking in a video shared on his verified Instagram page on Sunday, the cleric said the medical process lasted several months and cost more than $120,000. He, however, did not reveal the exact type of cancer he was diagnosed with.
Oritsejafor explained that although he was experiencing intense pain, he continued attending church programmes and carrying out ministerial duties. He said many people around him were unaware of the health crisis he was facing at the time.
According to the pastor, doctors in the United States later informed him that the cancer had spread to other parts of his body, prompting further examinations to determine whether it had reached his bones. The development raised fresh concerns about the severity of his condition.
He said he briefly returned to Nigeria and participated in a church programme known as Jubilee before the pain became unbearable again, forcing him to travel back abroad for additional treatment and medical evaluation.
The cleric revealed that doctors eventually confirmed the cancer had not spread to his bones, allowing treatment to begin immediately. During the process, he also developed a serious infection that initially proved difficult for doctors to manage, leading to concerns over his recovery.
Oritsejafor added that after a second surgery was cancelled on the advice of an elderly doctor who recommended antibiotics instead, his condition began to improve significantly.
He said strict isolation measures were enforced during his hospital stay, with visitors required to wear protective clothing before entering his room. After about four months of treatment in the United States, he eventually recovered.
