Obasanjo, Ekeh support Charly Boy’s health campaign

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Veteran entertainer and social commentator Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, has received support from prominent Nigerian figures, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and technology entrepreneur Leo Stan Ekeh, as he expands his advocacy for prostate cancer awareness through his foundation.

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The support came during the recent unveiling of Charly Boy’s memoir, 999: The Memoir of Charly Boy, held at the Alliance Française de Lagos/Mike Adenuga Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos, where the entertainer combined the launch of his life story with a fundraising campaign for prostate cancer awareness.

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The event attracted notable personalities, including former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, veteran broadcaster Bisi Olatilo, and book reviewer Dr Austin Tam-George.

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During the ceremony, Charly Boy publicly acknowledged Chairman of Zinox Group, Leo Ekeh, for encouraging him to channel his influence and activism into a structured initiative focused on serving humanity, particularly through prostate health advocacy.

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According to Charly Boy, Ekeh advised him to devote more attention to building a foundation that would address prostate-related health challenges rather than concentrating solely on activism.

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He added that Ekeh went beyond offering advice by supporting the establishment of the foundation and contributing to its development.

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Speaking at the event, Ekeh congratulated Charly Boy on the completion of his memoir, describing him as a global citizen whose creativity and unconventional approach had left a lasting impact on Nigeria’s cultural landscape.

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While acknowledging Charly Boy’s well-known “Area Fada” persona, Ekeh said the entertainer possessed exceptional communication abilities and a unique capacity to connect with people, noting that his ability to influence public conversations demonstrated skills that could have positioned him among the world’s leading marketing consultants.

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Obasanjo also reflected on his relationship with Charly Boy, revealing that his admiration for the entertainer was shaped not initially by his public activism but by the respect he showed towards his family, particularly his late father, one of Nigeria’s respected jurists.

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He said his perception of Charly Boy changed after witnessing his commitment to family values and the honour he consistently gave his parents.

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The memoir, which Charly Boy described as “a battleground rather than a biography,” chronicles his journey from growing up in a prominent Nigerian judicial family to becoming one of the country’s most recognisable cultural figures.

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The book explores his experiences with controversy, creativity, resilience and public advocacy, presenting a personal account of his decades-long career.

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Beyond the literary celebration, the event highlighted prostate cancer awareness and the importance of early detection. Guests participated in health advocacy activities, while fundraising efforts were directed towards expanding the Charly Boy Foundation’s interventions for men affected by prostate-related conditions.

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The event, supported by Samsung and Zenith Bank, also featured free prostate screening as part of efforts to promote awareness and encourage preventive healthcare.

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