I thank you all for honoring my invitation to this
#GivingTuesday event which by some stroke of fate coincides with my birthday.
The #GivingTuesday concept is not a celebration per se but a clarion call to
action to better the lives of others, through generous and sacrificial giving.
In 2012, the United Nations Foundation commenced the #GivingTuesday initiative,
a global way of promoting and celebrating philanthropy. #GivingTuesday is
observed world-wide, supported by business, political, and social leaders, who
jointly champion fund-raising for community development.
Presidents and Heads of Government of many nations have
become patrons of this philanthropic movement, a universally recognized way for
patriotic citizens to jointly contribute towards societal well-being.
It was therefore in line with this global best practice,
that I gladly accepted with all sense of responsibility to be the Lagos State
Patron of #GivingTuesday.
#GivingTuesday activities in Nigeria is powered by Committee
Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP-Nigeria), which is a platform through
which the private sector can support the developmental efforts of government.
I am happy to celebrate this very special #GivingTuesday
with my friends, family and colleagues. Amongst our Special Guests for today
are some of the One Hundred specially chosen philanthropists known as
Centurions and One Hundred philanthropic CEOs known as Nigeria’s First 100.
The Centurions are individuals who have invested their
resources to create positive change and make life better for the masses,
through the practice of massive, exceptional and far-reaching philanthropy. On
the other hand, Nigeria’s First 100 are philanthropic technocrats chosen from
among the CEOs of the biggest and best philanthropic corporate organization in
Nigeria.
The current focus of #GivingTuesday is the “BIG WAR Against
Cancer in Nigeria”. The first phase of the Big War Against Cancer involves
raising funds to acquire and deploy 37 Mobile Cancer Centres (MCC) for each state of the federation
and Abuja.
I am very glad to throw my weight behind this initiative,
particularly given the significant positive impact that this cause could
potentially have on society.
Lives are lost every day to cancer and this is unacceptable.
This is why the Lagos State Government carries out public health programmes
focused on cancer.
However, I believe that the government alone cannot solve
every problem; everyone has a role to play. In my one year in office, I have
come to realise that even with the best will in the world, Government cannot do
everything. The real challenge before me as Governor of Lagos is how I unite
public, private and philanthropic sectors in building our state.
I am therefore, glad that through this private sector led
initiative I can play a role in helping to advance the BIG WAR Against Cancer
for the well-being of not just the good people of Lagos State but Nigerians in
general.
On this note, I wish to publicly commend those
philanthropists who are the major sponsors of the first set of Mobile Cancer
Centres (MCC) which have already been ordered. These include the President of
the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; the Managing
Director of the Folawiyo Group, Dr. Tunde Folawiyo; the MD of Northwest
Petroleum and Gas Company Ltd, Dame Winifred Akpani, as well as the Chairman of
Zenith Bank, Mr. Jim Ovia.
Today is an opportune moment for me to spell out my
commitment and full support for the efforts of CECP. I am delighted with the
philanthropic sector through which your organisation has marched on, often
out-giving Government itself in support of the eradication of many societal
ills. The work being done by those represented here today is extraordinarily
inspiring and transformational in its breadth, reach and impact.
The purpose of this Luncheon is to raise funds for One
Mobile Cancer Centre for Lagos but I would like to challenge us all to not only
give towards the provision of one Mobile Cancer Center but towards the
provision of 3 Mobile Cancer Centers servicing each of the senatorial districts
of Lagos; as the Centre of Excellence and Africa’s model City-State.
This would help to save millions of Nigerians from
preventable suffering and death. We can only achieve this goal with the
generous support of all people of goodwill. Without these donations, the goal
would not be reached and the opportunity to save lives would be lost.
I urge all of you, my friends, family, colleagues, eminent
philanthropists and philanthrocrats, to rise up and be counted by donating
generously towards this worthy cause.
Before I close, I want to sincerely thank CECP for all their
efforts and for giving me the great honour of being the first Lagos State CECP
Patron and the first Governor of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to become a
Patron of CECP. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I thank you all again for celebrating today with me as
philanthropy marches on in Lagos!
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