By: Abdullah Oladejo
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode O. Adebowale, has assured that the university will support Dove-Haven Foundation on its Cancer Awareness Programme and the establishment of a branch of its campaign group within the University of Ibadan.
Professor Kayode Adebowale gave the assurance while receiving the Executive Director of Dove-Haven Foundation and members of his team during a courtesy visit to the University.
Professor Adebowale commended Dove-Haven Foundation for raising cancer awareness, education, research, and training in society, asserting that it reduces cancer prevalence in Nigeria.
He commended the foundation for leveraging volunteer services in advancing its cause, while stating that volunteer services are very rare in Nigeria compared to the Western world, where it is a requisite for admission into some programmes in the university.
Professor Adebowale further appreciated and encouraged the volunteer members, while assuring them that the benefits they would derive from volunteering will be invaluable.
Professor Adebowale also advised the foundation to follow ethical guidelines and ensure that the awareness programme benefits the university community.
The Executive Director of Dove-Haven Foundation, Dr. Ekundayo Samuel, stated the Dove-Haven Foundation is a not-for-profit, non-political, and non-governmental organisation with the aim of promoting the health and wellbeing of Nigerians by reducing cancer threats.
He further explained that the organisation is particularly working towards reducing cancer prevalence in Nigeria through cancer prevention, management, research, and programmes which are designed to raise cancer awareness and education in the society, as well as providing easy access to cancer screening, diagnosis, management, and enhance the quality of life of cancer patients.
Dr Samuel disclosed that the foundation, in recent times has observed the increasing rate of cancer among young people between the age of 25 and 40 years and has decided to directly and indirectly impact one million people in Oyo State through its cancer awareness programme.
He explained that the foundation is based in Kogi State and the University of Ibadan, and four other tertiary institutions in Oyo State have been selected for a launch of the awareness programme in Oyo State.
The other beneficiaries include Lead City University, The Polytechnic Ibadan, School of Nursing & Midwifery, and Federal College of Animal Health Production.
The Executive Director added that the initiative aims at volunteering at local and international levels and has about two hundred volunteers in Nigeria.
Courtesy: UI DIRECTORATE OF PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
