Introduction Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women with estimated 604000 new cases and 342000 deaths in 2020. 90% of new cases and deaths worldwide in 2020 occurred in low middle income countries. The most important risk factor for cervical cancer is infection by human Papillomavirus (HPV). HPV can be spread during sex. Cervical cancer is highly preventable with screening but women rarely know the importance of cervix screening. Reports have shown that cervical cancer kills one woman every hour in Nigeria and ignorance remains the underlying risk factor for most Nigerian women.

Methods It was a crossectional semi descriptive study conducted among 200 market women randomly selected using systematic sampling technique. A questionnaire was used to collect data and the mean age of the study was 18- 65 years.

Results Significant numbers of market women exhibited a low knowledge of cervical cancer screening 86%. Some of these women reported not having been screened for cervical cancer and reasons were Religious beliefs. Low income. Cultural and language barrier 14%. In line with a study done in Abuja hospital. 94.5% of cervical cancer patients presented their cases late due to ignorance.

Conclusion/Implications There is a general need to educate market women. Governmental agencies should introduce cervical cancer educators with interpreters in market places. Most market women are not literates. It is important to use illustrative diagrams and 3D photographs to educate women on the importance of early cervical cancer screening and to enable them make an informed choice to prevent it.