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.
Full Text of the Address Delivered By His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, Governor Of Lagos State At The #GivingTuesdayLagos Luncheon On Tuesday 14th June 2016 At The Banquet Hall Of Lagos House, Alausa
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!
Thank you.
Akinwunmi Ambode
Governor Lagos State