By Moshood Adebayo

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Basking in the euphoria of his 53rd birthday, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday, urged Nigerians to unite against cancer.
He spoke  at the “Special Giving Tuesday,”organised by the Committee Encouraging  Corporate Philanthropy in Nigeria (CECPN),  at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.
During the ceremony, which was attended by eminent Nigerians, Ambode said his administration plans to establish three cancer centres across the three Senatorial Districts in the state
The governor lamented cancer scourge in the country and appealed to individual Nigerians and corporate bodies to join in the fight against it.
He said the war was one that the government cannot tackle alone, hence, the need for Nigerians to extend their philanthropy towards the scourge
“Lives are lost everyday to cancer, and this is unacceptable. This is why the Lagos state government carries out public health programs, focused on cancer.
“I believe that 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 to 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.
Ambode, who commended CECP and philanthropists who donated towards the purchase of the first set of Mobile Cancer Centres, said 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,”
The governor also expressed readiness of his administration to mobilise philanthropists and corporate organizations towards establishing a comprehensive cancer centre in Lagos within the next three years,