Yesterday, June 14th marked the 53rd Birthday of Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. He decided to mark this day with the with a special luncheon to raise funds for the provision of three Mobile Cancer Centers across the three Senatorial Districts in the State, with a call on Nigerians to join hands to wage war against the scourge.
The committee is promoted by six Nigerian organizations; namely: the Institute of Directors (IOD), the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and industry (LCCI), the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (NACCIMA), the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) and the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). The event which was tagged ?#?GivingTuesdayLagos? was put together by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP-Nigeria), He assured that the Centers 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 remarked;
“Lives are lost every day to cancer and this is unacceptable. This is why the Lagos State Government carries out public health programm 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, also commended the CECP and all philanthropists who donated towards the purchase of the first set of Mobile Cancer Centers, said that though the initial target was for one Center in Lagos, having three centers in each of the senatorial districts in the State was a priority for him.
We wish Governor Akinwunmi Ambode many happy more years in good health.
