Doctors said they couldn’t see my kidney properly; tumor had covered it — Osifeso, two-time cancer survivor

AT 65, Sotilewa Godwin Osifeso carries himself with the energy of a much younger man. He rides horses, walks his farm, manages business interests across continents, and speaks with a clarity forged by experience.

But beneath that vitality lies a story marked by hardship, discipline, global exposure—and two life-threatening battles with cancer that reshaped everything he thought he knew about health, survival, and purpose.

His journey begins not in the hospitals of California, but in the bustling neighborhoods of Ibadan, where his early life quietly laid the foundation for the resilience he would later need to survive.

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Born and raised in Ibadan, Osifeso grew up in a modest but structured household. His father worked as a bank manager, ensuring stability, though not excess. Life in neighborhoods like Sabo and Oke-Ado exposed him to both the vibrancy and the struggles of urban Nigerian life.

He attended local schools, including Grammar School in the Molete area, before proceeding to polytechnic studies where he trained in construction technology. These early years were formative, not just academically, but culturally.

“I grew up here. I understand the life. I understand the struggle,” he recounted.

Ibadan, with its mix of tradition and ambition, shaped his worldview. It was a place where community mattered, where discipline was expected, and where young people were often guided sometimes toward specific career paths.

But even as a child, Osifeso knew what he wanted. He always wanted to be an architect. That dream, however, would not come easily.

After completing secondary school, Osifeso faced a frustrating reality. Despite strong academic performance, he could not secure admission into architecture programmes in Nigeria.

 “Even with distinction, I couldn’t get in due to quota systems that limited access,” he declared.

Rather than abandon his dream, he made a bold decision: he left Nigeria for the United States. What followed was not a story of relentless struggle, not instant success.

In America, he worked up to three jobs simultaneously, delivering pizza, working at filling stations, and doing manual labour, while pursuing a demanding five-year architecture degree.

He declared: “There were days I had nothing in my pocket. I didn’t know how I would eat.”

He carried cement, worked overnight shifts, and pushed his body to its limits, all in pursuit of his single goal of becoming an architect.

This period taught him one of his core philosophies: Struggle is a rite of passage. There’s no shortcut.

Eventually, his persistence paid off. He not only graduated but went on to build a successful architectural firm in California, earning recognition for his work, particularly in educational infrastructure.

As his career flourished, Osifeso guiding principle in service became “He who gets, gives. He who learns, teaches”.

He became actively involved in community development, including youth empowerment and rural initiatives through philanthropic efforts. His traditional title, “Otunba,” reflects both heritage and responsibility—a recognition of his contributions to society.

Despite decades abroad, he maintained strong ties to Nigeria, eventually returning more frequently to invest, engage, and contribute.

But just as life seemed stable, his health took an unexpected turn. About four years ago, Osifeso was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, one of the most common cancers among men worldwide.

Prostate cancer is a growth of cells that starts in the prostate. The prostate is a small gland that helps make the fluid part of semen. It’s found just below the bladder. The prostate is part of the male reproductive system.

At first symptoms of prostate cancer were subtle, difficulty urinating that become significant. Its other symptoms in its early stages include needing to urinate more often; trouble getting started when trying to urinate; waking up to urinate more often at night and blood in the semen.

Unfortunately, difficulty urinating is the only sign for many men.  It’s a silent killer.

Osifeso said that many Nigerian men avoid screening due to stigma or discomfort, often waiting until symptoms become severe.

Doctors recommended a Radical Prostatectomy, a major operation to remove the prostate.

As part of pre-surgical preparation, he underwent extensive testing, a decision that would ultimately save his life.

During routine scans, doctors noticed abnormalities in his kidney function. Further investigation revealed a shocking discovery: a massive tumor encasing one of his kidneys.  The tumour was diagnosed a cancer.

“They said they couldn’t even see my kidney properly. The tumor had covered it,” he recounted.

The tumor was enormous, far larger than initially detected by imaging. Surgeons had no choice but to perform a Nephrectomy, removing the entire kidney.

He stated: “When they opened me up, that’s when they saw how big it really was.”

The discovery was both terrifying and fortunate. Without the prostate surgery preparation, the tumour might have remained undetected until it was too late.

Today, Osifeso lives with a single kidney that he describes as “not functioning very well.” His health requires constant monitoring, including regular PSA tests and kidney function checks.

His experience has reshaped his understanding of mortality.  “You live on borrowed time. Cancer makes it real,” he said.

He undergoes medical reviews every few months, staying vigilant for any signs of recurrence.

The financial cost has also been staggering. His treatment, primarily at City of Hope, amounted to approximately $5 million, with about $1 million paid personally.

Yet he considers himself fortunate because he confessed “God provides.”

Post-recovery, Osifeso made sweeping lifestyle changes, many of which he believes could have prevented his illness.

He eliminated red meat, reduced sugar intake, avoided alcohol, and committed to regular physical activity. Life goes on regardless of taken red meat and alcohol.

Interestingly, he still operates businesses that sell meat—but chooses not to consume it. He rides the horses and continues to promote and sustain the horse-riding tradition that is central to Ojude Oba and Ijebu culture at large.

He also reevaluated his medical treatments; particularly the use of Valsartan, an antihypertensive medication which he believes may have contributed to his kidney problem. After discontinuing it under medical supervision and losing weight, his blood pressure improved significantly.

Osifeso credits his survival not just to medicine, but to support particularly from his family. His wife, children, and close associates adapted their lifestyles around him, creating an environment that reinforced his new habits. Even when others drank alcohol or ate differently, he remained disciplined.

“Support is everything. If your environment encourages bad habits, you’ll fall. It doesn’t mean I will follow and kill myself,” he added.

His experience also highlights systemic challenges in Nigeria’s healthcare system, particularly limited access to advanced diagnostics and concerns about counterfeit drugs.

According to him, “You can do tests here, but we lack equipment. And sometimes the drugs are not reliable.”

He recalls taking antibiotics in Nigeria without improvement, only to recover after receiving the same medication from the United States, raising concerns about drug quality.

Osifeso’s message to men, and the next generation is both urgent and practical: get regular medical checkups, stay physically active, stay physically active, do PSA testing from age 40 (or earlier if at risk) and reduce red meat and alcohol consumption.

To young people, his advice extends beyond health: “Chase your passion. Be patient. There’s no shortcut.”

His own life, from Ibadan to California, from struggle to success, from illness to recovery, embodies that philosophy.

Today, Osifeso begins each day with gratitude. He rides horses, manages his farm, and continues his work in architecture and community development. He does not see himself as extraordinary but believes that people should learn from his life experience.

In a country where cancer is often feared but rarely discussed openly, his voice carries weight, not just as a survivor, but as a guide.

The story of Sotilewa Godwin Osifeso, the Otunba Arogun Masa of Ijebu Ode is not just about surviving cancer twice. It is about awareness, prevention, discipline, and responsibility.

It is about a boy from Ibadan who refused to give up on his dreams, a man who faced death twice and chose to live differently, and a voice now calling on others to act before it is too late.

“It’s not the end of the world. But you must do your part. And perhaps, in that shift, more lives will be saved,” he said.

As Nigeria continues to grapple with rising cancer cases and healthcare challenges, stories like his may be the catalyst needed to shift attitudes from fear and silence to action and prevention.