Over 650 runners from over 60 companies turned out for the 6th edition of the NSE Corporate Challenge despite the heavy rain over the weekend at the Muri-Okunola Park, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The NSE Corporate Challenge, which was instituted in 2014, is a one-day competitive and fun-filled 5 kilometers walk, jog and run event, designed to create awareness on the early detection of cancer and raise funds to support the fight against the dreadful disease in Nigeria.
The event this year tagged “e-Race Cancer” featured aerobics dance, games, music, entertainment, and free cancer screening as Austin Ani of Stanbic IBTC emerged the overall winner with a completion time of 19.05 minutes, the same feat he achieved in the 2018 edition.
Paul Alabi of Aluko & Oyebode, who was the first runner up in 2018, and Aliyu Lukman of Fidelity Bank Plc were in the second and third positions, finishing the race in 19.27 minutes and 19.50 minutes, respectively.
Adaobi Anikwe of The Nigerian Stock Exchange, with a completion time of 24.58 minutes, emerged the Fastest Female runner, while Rene Gabriel of Nigerian Breweries Plc emerged the winner of the Senior Citizen category for runners aged 50 and above, with a race time of 22.30 minutes, same feat he achieved in the 2016 edition.
The runners were joined by top business leaders and outstanding race ambassadors such as Kate Henshaw, Waje, Omololu Shomuyiwa, Tobi Bakare, and DJ Neptune, to mention a few.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, OON, Chief Executive Officer, NSE, noted that, “Cancer-related deaths in Nigeria are set to rise if urgent actions are not taken to raise awareness about early detection of the disease and to develop practical strategies to address the increasing burden. Such is the idea that inspired the NSE Corporate Challenge in 2014. In its 6th year, the NSE Corporate Challenge has adopted exercise as a vehicle to drive its cancer awareness initiative and further stress the need for regular exercise and overall healthy living as ways to reduce the risk of cancer”.
“It is heart-warming to see hundreds of people here today who believe in our journey to a cancer-free society and who do not care about the weather in fighting cancer. A lot of people could have rolled over this morning and gone back to bed with the pouring rain, but we all came out because of our passion to eradicate cancer in Nigeria. Hours in the rain is nothing compared to people going through chemotherapy.
We believe that our message about cancer will create a ripple effect that provokes joint actions toward erasing cancer in Nigeria and have a far-reaching positive impact on the populace especially the less privileged”, added Onyema.
The NSE CEO also lauded the listed companies, non-listed companies, stockbroking community, other corporate organizations, government agencies as well as notable Nigerians and celebrities for their continuous support for the annual event since inception.
This year, the NSE worked in close partnership with various sponsors, partners, and volunteers. including Stanbic IBTC, Dangote Cement Plc, Beta Glass Plc, FCMB, MTN Nigeria, FBN Holdings, IHS Towers, Transcorp, Fidelity Bank Plc, UBA, SAHCO, AIICO Plc, CSCS Plc, Seplat, EKEDC and Sterling Bank Plc.
