Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday marked
his birthday with a special luncheon too raise funds for the provision of three
Mobile Cancer Centres across the three Senatorial Districts in the State, with
a call on Nigerians to join hands together to wage war against the scourge.
The Governor who spoke at an event tagged
#GivingTuesdayLagos put together by the Committee Encouraging Corporate
Philanthropy (CECP-Nigeria), which coincided with his 53rd Birthday, said
the Centres would go a long way to save millions of Nigerians from preventable
suffering and death.
Lamenting the rate at which the terminal disease has claimed
thousands of lives in recent times, the Governor said it was unacceptable and
therefore calls for concerted efforts from all and sundry.
He said the war against cancer was one that the government
cannot tackle alone, hence the need for Nigerians to extend their philanthropy
towards the scourge.
"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.
"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.
"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,” he said.
Governor Ambode, who commended the CECP and philanthropists
who donated towards the purchase of the first set of Mobile Cancer Centres,
said that though the initial target was for one Centre in Lagos, having three
centres in each of the senatorial districts in the State was a priority for
him.
"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 three 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," he said.
He also expressed the readiness of his administration to
mobilise philanthropists and Corporate Organisations towards establishing a
comprehensive Cancer Centre in Lagos within the next three years, starting with
making available a piece of land in any part of the State as well as
facilitating speedy paper work.
"This is not really a celebration but a call to service.
Against all odds; against all the things happening to the economy in the
country; against the numbers; against the anxieties and the panic, we are still
able to stand up and gather ourselves together and say we want to give back to
humanity, that is symbolic and key for me and I think we must commend ourselves
that all hope is not lost. There is more value to us and humanity in
championing this course," he said.
On his part, Dr. Christopher Kolade, anchor of CECP-Nigeria,
commended the Governor for accepting the request that his birthday be dedicated
towards raising funds to fight cancer as well as accepting to be the first
Governor to be inducted as the State Patron of CECP.
Governor Ambode was later decorated as the State Patron of
CECP by the organisation’s Convener, Mrs. Adetutu Adeleke.
Among those who participated in the fund raising luncheon
include Chairman, Zenith Bank, Mr. Jim Ovia, Group Managing Director,
Zenith Bank Plc., Mr. Peter Amangbo, Publisher, Guardian Newspapers, Maiden
Alex Ibru, Dr. Christopher Kolade, President, Nigerian Stock Exchange
(NSE), Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Dr. Michael Omolayole, Chief Adebutu
Kessington, Chairman of Eleganza Group, Chief Rasaq Okoya, Rtd Justice Adesola
Oguntade, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, captains of industries, members of Diplomatic
Corps, among others.
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