The Atinuke Cancer Foundation has organised an Inter-school/Inter-state Essay Competition. The competition which is aimed at improving knowledge about cancer and access to healthcare, had Abdulsalam Bada, a student of Oriwu College, Ikorodu Lagos, emerged overall winner, while Success Oloyede of Baptist Boys High School, Abeokuta, Ogun State, as first runner-up, and Destiny Orako of Eva Adelaja Girls School, Bariga, Lagos State, as second runner-up. About eight schools participated in the competition and wrote on the topic, ‘Knowledge conquers cancer, let’s close the care gap’.
The overall winner received the sum of N500,000, while the two other winners got an Android phone, a video and a camera, respectively.
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Atinuke Cancer Foundation, Mrs. Tinu Lawal, a cancer survivor, said, “Knowledge, in this context, is moving from the dark days of fear and terror upon receiving a cancer diagnosis to a future of certainty. We started last year and we decided to bring the message to the youths because cancer is a scourge that respects no one.” Lawal also said that she was impressed by the performances of the students who participated in the essay competition.
The President, Nigerian Cancer Society, Dr. Adamu Umar, noted that prevention was better, safer, and cheaper than cure.
“The advocacy for early detection starts with knowledge, and advocacy has no linear direction and that is the basis upon which we want to catch them young. There is the need to create a legal backing so that there will be compulsory means of educating them on healthy lifestyles so that there will be a reduction in cancer disease in Nigeria”.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser on Health to the Governor of Ogun State, Dr Tomi Coker, advised the students to always eat healthy and natural meals.
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