Veteran entertainer and activist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as CharlyBoy, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Nollywood actor Tom Njemanze, who passed away over the weekend after a prolonged battle with prostate cancer.
Njemanze had recently gone public with his health struggles, appealing for financial assistance for his surgery through a viral video. CharlyBoy, who had earlier launched a public appeal for support on the actor’s behalf, described his death as “regrettable” in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.
“We received the news at the weekend from his son who called to inform me that he had passed on,” CharlyBoy said. “His death is so unfortunate, and that is why when we see somebody in distress, we should immediately see what can be done because nobody knows the time.”
He noted that although some awareness and financial support had been generated, the efforts came too late to save Njemanze. “We were able to help a little in terms of awareness and getting people to donate directly to the family,” he added.
In response to Njemanze’s death and his own survival of prostate cancer, CharlyBoy is leading a nationwide awareness campaign on prostate health through the CharlyBoy Foundation. The initiative aims to educate Nigerian men about the importance of regular screening, early diagnosis, and open discussions around prostate issues.
“Men are dying in silence,” he said. “They don’t talk about their prostate problems. I’m trying to change that culture and encourage men to speak up and take action.”
The campaign, which also touches on mental health and diabetes, seeks to address the stigma surrounding men’s health and promote a culture of regular medical checkups.
CharlyBoy emphasized that his personal experience with prostate cancer inspired him to use his platform to drive awareness and encourage voluntary testing for early detection and treatment.