NSE leads corporate Nigerians, celebrities to “e-race” cancer

Hundreds of individuals, corporates and celebrities hit the street of Lagos on Saturday, May 14, 2016, to run against cancer in the 3rd edition of the NSE Corporate Challenge tagged “e-Race Cancer”, organized by The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), in conjunction with the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP).

L – R: Haruna Jalo-Waziri, Executive Director, Capital Market, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Uzoma Dozie, Group Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer, Oscar N. Onyema, CEO, NSE and Bola Adeeko, Head, Corporate Services Division, NSE at the 2016 NSE Corporate Challenge in Lagos…..recently

The race which started at the MuriOkunola Park, Adeyemo Alakija Street, Victoria Island, is designed to raise awareness and funds for the purchase of 37 Mobile Cancer Centers (MCCs).

Over 600 runners from 100 companies participated in the race that saw Paul Alabi from Aluko & Oyebode emerge the overall winner of this edition of the NSE Corporate Challenge. Anolue Uzochukwu from Cutix Plc and Austin Ani from Stanbic IBTC came second and third respectively.

Esther Obiekwe from Diamond Bank emerge the fastest female while Rene Gabriel from Nigerian Breweries came first in the senior citizen category.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer, NSE, Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, OON, said “at the NSE we are determined to increase cancer survival rates in Nigeria by delivering Mobile Cancer Centers to provide free screening and treatment across Nigeria. For this reason we came up with the NSE Corporate Challenge to support those who are affected by cancer. It is heartening to see so many people step up to help those afflicted with cancer. The tremendous support shown by the community this year is evident from the overwhelming number of people who came out to run and volunteers who assisted. I would like to thank everyone for supporting this cause.

“I encourage all of you to get informed on cancer prevention and control and to raise awareness and reduce cancer risks. I am also using this platform to call on Governments, institutions and individuals for joint action with the goal of multiplying efforts to save lives, and to support initiatives aimed at fighting this dreadful disease. It is precisely because every human life counts that the fight against cancer must be undertaken collectively”, Onyema noted.

The NSE Corporate Challenge is a professionally organized and volunteer-driven initiative involving companies listed on the Exchange, broker dealer firms, non-listed companies and individuals who identify with the initiative.

L – R: Dapo Martins, Head, Wealth Marketing, Stanbic IBTC Plc; Winner 2016, Mr. Paul Alabi from Aluko & Oyebode and Oscar N. Onyema, Chief Executive Officer, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) at the 2016 NSE Corporate Challenge in Lagos………..recently

“This year, we worked in close partnership with various sponsors, media partners and volunteers including Stanbic IBTC Bank, Lafarge, Diamond Bank, FCMB, Union Bank of Nigeria, Seplat, Julius Berger, Heritage Bank, BusinessDay Newspaper, Channels Television, AIT, Nigeria Info FM, Rainbow FM, FRCN, Radio Continental, TVC, CNBC Africa, Proshare, Lagos State Signage & Advertisement Agency and Spar Nigeria. The 2016 NSE Corporate Challenge also had Ali Baba, Burna Boy, Seyi Shay, Marcy Dolapo Oni, Gideon Okeke as well as Pryse and TK from Chocolate City as race ambassadors. The contributions of these companies and individuals assisted in making the event a resounding success.” Adeeko remarked.

The NSE still welcomes contributions from corporate organizations who want to identify with the cause and help to accelerate the vision of procuring cancer screening units to prevent avoidable deaths by making early detection possible for millions of people.