By Charles Pemu 
Veteran entertainer and activist, Charles Oputa, popularly known as CharlyBoy, has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Nollywood actor Tom Njemanze, who died over the weekend after a prolonged battle with prostate cancer.
Njemanze had earlier appealed to the public in a viral video, seeking financial support to undergo urgent surgery. According to CharlyBoy, who confirmed the actor’s death via a call from his son, help had begun to trickle in when the tragic news came.
“We were just mobilizing support for his treatment when his son called to say he had passed on. It’s so unfortunate. That’s why immediate action is critical when someone cries out for help,” CharlyBoy told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
The late actor’s death has now added urgency to CharlyBoy’s nationwide campaign for prostate cancer screening and awareness, an initiative he launched after surviving the disease himself.
“Men are dying in silence,” he said. “They don’t speak up about their health, especially when it involves pain or discomfort. We need to break that silence.”
Through the CharlyBoy Foundation, the activist is leading efforts to educate Nigerian men about prostate health, mental well-being, and chronic conditions like diabetes—areas often neglected in public health discourse.
“I want to normalize regular screening for men. If you catch prostate cancer early, it’s manageable. But most men wait until it’s too late,” he added.
CharlyBoy emphasized that the campaign is not just personal but urgent. “Tom’s death should not be in vain. His struggle reminds us that health crises don’t wait for perfect timing.”