Thank you all for answering this call and rising to this occasion. There is nothing better than being appreciated by one’s own constituency and your presence here really gladdens my heart.
I felt that I should tell you myself about my plans for my 70th birthday. I feel so grateful to God for enabling me to stand before you in this manner. I feel thankful that my profession and the nature of my job pushed me to keep showing up, despite the personal difficulties I had with various members of my family. I owe my reason to my God, my profession, my family and my friends, because the combination of the four kept me going.
These are the thoughts that brought me back to this constituency (that is you) and my resolve to mark my birthday in a different way. I have spent almost 50 years performing in public and it has been a blessing. It is that same public that I come to now, asking for their help.
Some members of my family have struggled with an ailment known as cancer; sometimes winning and sometimes losing, but, thankfully, in those trying times, when we reached out to friends, we received the help we needed to cope with the situations, one by one.
However, as I speak, there are people who have cancer but have neither access to treatment nor any hope of sustainable care. I have spoken to relevant stakeholders, oncologists and health practitioners and new cases are being diagnosed at an alarming rate every clinic day in all the public hospitals. I am therefore convinced that I must do something significant to make life more comfortable for cancer patients.
Although my birthday occurs during the Lenten season as well as the month of Ramadan, after due consideration, my family and I have decided to commemorate this milestone by raising N100,000,000.00 (One Hundred Million Naira) for cancer research and the treatment of cancer patients in public hospitals… but I know that this cannot be done alone.
I ask the public to join me to do two things that will ease the discomfort of cancer patients. I would like the benefits to be widespread and accessible, irrespective of financial standing.
1. Raise funds to facilitate vital research.
From my investigations, some Nigerian hospitals are working with Professor Olufunmilayo Olopade, a globally renowned haematology oncologist, who is the Associate Dean for Global Health and Walter L. Palmer, Distinguished Service Professor in Medicine and Human Genetics at the University of Chicago. The structures are therefore available to pursue various research programmes.
2. Raise funds for equipment and accessories.
I have also investigated ways of making diagnosis and treatment days more agreeable for cancer patients and have identified items that will help to achieve that aim.
A fund-raising committee has been established. I wanted it to be transparent and efficient and so it is made up of media professionals like you and chaired by Mrs. Toun Okewale-Sonaiya, the CEO of WFM 91.7; the first radio station for women in Nigeria. Shep will keep an eye on the process supported by her able team members. I am sure she will introduce them.
I approached elder statesmen to oversee the event, so Chief Emeka Anyaoku and his wife will chair the proceedings, while Chief Olusegun Obasanjo will support as the Father of the Day. I have invited several other dignitaries to be Pillars of Support but I am expecting confirmations. I believe their presence not only gives credence to raising awareness about closing the care gap regarding cancer in Nigeria but it also demonstrates the necessity of raising funds to achieve this objective.
The funds will be paid into an organisation, duly registered at the Corporate Affairs Commission in 2017. It is:
Lifeline Advocacy and Development Initiative
Fidelity Bank
Account No:5601206418
The Trustees are:
H.E. Dr. Christopher Kolade CON (Diplomat/Elder Statesman)
Mrs. Busola Talabi (ED Legal. Globacom Ltd/Director Julius Berger PLC.)
Dr. Mrs. Sola Momoh (VC Channels Media Group)
Dr. Raymond Kuti (MD/CEO Prisms Healthcare Ltd.)
Mr. Kingsley James (CEO IDCL Nigeria)
Mrs. Bimbo Oloyede (Co-ordinator Lifeline Initiative)
The venue for this event is the historic Glover Memorial Hall, Custom Street, Lagos. Our thanks go to them for offering substantial support for thi9s event. The fund-raising element will take place immediately after a short Songs of Praise Service, before the reception proper.
Ladies and gentlemen, please join us to spread the word. The target of One Hundred Million Naira is not beyond us. Let us extend a lifeline to Cancer patients, let us offer hope while they are being treated.
THANK YOU
MRS BIMBO OLOYEDE
CO-ORDINATOR: LIFELINE ADVOCACY AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
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