NSE, CECP plan to set up cancer centre in Nigeria

Exchange generates N36.5m during campaign
The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), in collaboration with the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy in Nigeria (CECP), has concluded plan to acquire Mobile Cancer Centre (MCC) in the country.

The NSE said it had successfully generated the sum of N36.5 million in its 2015 corporate challenge programme, which would be deployed for the acquisition of the MCC in the fight against cancer.

Speaking at a press briefing to announce the NSE 2016 corporate challenge programme slated for May 14 in Lagos yesterday, Chief of Staff and Head, Corporate Services of the NSE, Bola Adeko, said that the initiative was introduced in 2013 to create awareness for cancer scourge in the country.

He said that the Exchange would continue to work closely with the CECP in the fight against cancer.

Meanwhile, Executive Secretary, CECP, Dr. Abia Nzelu, has urged government to introduce incentives that would make it easy for private sectors to donate and contribute towards the eradication of the disease in Nigeria.

Nzelu, who stated that the cancer centre would be set up by October 2016, disclosed that it would be located in Abuja and Lagos before the end of 2016.

The CECP Executive Secretary, who commended the NSE for its national drive in providing cancer screening unit in the country, said that smoking is a major risk factor, as it contributes to over 40 per cent of all cancer cases.

“Smoking is a big risk factor. The problem with smoking is that it does not affect only the primary consumer.

“The legislation that people should stop smoking in public places should be implemented to reduce the risk of others dying from what they know nothing about. This implementation is already on in other countries to protect their citizens from being affected,” Nzelu said.

Speaking on the 2016 corporate challenge, the NSE Head, Corporate Communications, Olumide Orojimi, said that take-off point for the race is Muri Okunola Park, Victoria Island, Lagos, adding that participation fee for listed companies were N400,000 and N100,000 for brokerage firms and N500,000 for non-listed companies.