The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Professor Joseph Adeola Fuwape has hailed Mrs. Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, wife of Ondo State Governor and founder of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) for exerting so much effort towards raising awareness on breast cancer in Nigeria.
Owing to the mishaps and damages caused by the disease in the lives of many women, Mrs. Anyanwu-Akeredolu has been up on her feet organizing campaigns to see that more women are sensitized and prevented from this snare.
Professor Fuwape gave the commendation during a lunch meeting organized by Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN) at the Multipurpose Hall, FUTA, Ondo State.
He mentioned that BRECAN has been a notable vanguard in creating awareness of the life-threatening disease and expressed FUTA’s readiness to partner with BRECAN towards fulfilling its mandate.
In his words, “The Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria has been a vanguard of creating the needed awareness on breast cancer disease in Nigeria. I have the privilege of reading through that BRECAN was established about twenty years ago. Can we give a round of applause for BRECAN… Another round of applause for the Arabinrin as the CEO of BRECAN.
The Foundation’s pro-education initiative has impacted on lives of many who would have succumbed to the disease due to ignorance and lack of support. It is heartwarming to know that one of the initiatives of BRECAN, which is Jog for Life, has succeeded in breaking down the walls of secrecy and stigmatization. BRECAN has so provided emotional and informational support to women on healthy living and good diet, to the extent that we have survivors and people who have testimonies on how they have been able to overcome the challenges of breast cancer.
I believe that the area where BRECAN has made so much impact is the preventive area.”
The professor went ahead to say that FUTA has the much needed capacity to partner with BRECAN.
” FUTA was granted a license by the Nigerian Universities Council to establish the School of Health and Health Technology, with programmes in human anatomy, biomedical technology and physiology. With this, the university is at a great pedestal to really partner with BRECAN, because it has to do with the health and wellbeing of not only the female but also of the family… The Federal University of Technology, Akure is indeed proud of our association with Her Excellency, the First Lady of Ondo State, the Founder of BRECAN. We wish BRECAN higher accomplishments in fulfilling its mandate.”
In her presentation, the Founder of BRECAN, Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, noted that cancer advocacy in Nigeria is making progress as BRECAN now has seven state chapters with their advocacy focusing on education, early diagnosis through screening, improved government policies and funding for cancer control. She also encouraged survivors to be bold and tell their stories.
The lunch meeting which focused on “Cancer Control Programme in Ondo State: The Journey So Far” had in attendance the Ondo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Wahab Adegbenro, Consultant to Ondo State Government on Cancer Control, Dr. Kingsley Ndo, WECAN delegates, some stakeholders in the health sector, top government officials and principal officers of the University.
