The second edition of The Nigerian Stock Exchange Corporate Challenge which took place in Lagos on Saturday, May 16, 2015, brought together hundreds of individuals, corporates and celebrities in a 5-kilometre walk, run or jog race through the business district of Lagos in the fight against cancer.
The race, which is ann annual event, was organised in collaboration with the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) to increase the awareness level of cancer and raise funds towards the purchase of 37 mobile screening units. The units will provide the general Nigerian public with the much needed early detection required to prevent most cancers from degenerating into fatality.
Speaking during the event, the Executive Director, Market Operations and Technology, NSE, Mr. Ade Bajomo, said “We are glad with the increased participation in this year’s edition of our corporate challenge, this is a testament to the collective aspiration of corporate Nigeria to raise the awareness level and contribute to this drive to reduce deaths arising from cancer.”
While also commenting, Mr. Bola Adeeko, Head of Corporate Services Division stated, “Everyone knows someone who has been affected by this dreadful disease. Through this initiative, we want to provide access to early detection and treatment of cancer. The funds we are raising will go toward the purchase of Mobile Cancer Centres across Nigeria as we look to save lives.”
“This initiative allows us not only to create awareness about cancer but to contribute our own quota towards the reduction of the scourge. The mobile cancer centres that this fundraising will help acquire will provide screening to the medically underserved, which will result in early detection thereby significantly improving their prognosis, treatment and survival rates.”
The NSE Corporate Challenge is a professionally organised and volunteer-driven initiative involving over 400 companies listed on the Exchange, broker dealer firms, and non-listed companies who identify with the initiative. “This year, we worked in close partnership with various sponsors, media partners and volunteers including Diamond Bank, Lafarge, Caverton, StanbicIBTC Bank, FCMB, First Bank, Guinness Nigeria, GSK, Cadbury, Channels Television, AIT, Nigeria Info FM, TVC, CNBC Africa, Proshare, and Chocolatecity Music Group. The support of these companies and individuals contributed immensely to the success of the event,” Adeeko added.