Health

Northern youths celebrate Alliance Hospital CMD, gives him award

Published

3 years ago

March 21, 2024

Youths from the 19 northern states of Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Wednesday, celebrated the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Alliance Hospital, Dr Christopher Otabor for reversing medical tourism in the country.

The youths expressed their joy, saying that the patriotic zeal injected into the medical profession by Dr Otabor has helped to reverse medical tourism, thus generating income for the country.

The youths who operated under the aegis of the Northern Youths Association of Nigeria expressed their appreciation and presented to the Chief consultant orthopedic surgeon, the highest leadership award.

The youth presented to the CMD “Sir Ahmadu Bello Platinum Leadership and Northern Heroes Award.

Speaking through its president, Comrade Adams Bogoro, the group explained that
having followed the activities of the medical practitioner for long, it found him worthy to bell one of the recipients of the prestigious awards.

Bogoro described Otabor as an “Icon of nation-building, explaining that the award was in recognition of his immense contributions and philanthropy.

He said that the CMD had performed well in the areas of human transformation and educational transformation for the benefit of humanity and the country at large.

Bogoro said that the Northern Youth Association of Nigeria found it compelling to identify with Otabor for positive contributions to humanity and Nigerian society, to spur him to do more.

He insisted that Alliance Hospital had done very well to change the narrative in medical tourism, adding that the Northern youths were in the hospital to identify with the hospital.

“We are here to identify with you on what you have been doing. You have contributed positively to the Nigerian society, so we are here to encourage you to do more.

“We have been following your antecedents for quite some time, this hospital has done well in the area of impacting health, It is based on this that this group deemed it fit to consider you as one of the recipients of our awards.

“The award is to spur you, the award is to encourage you, the award is to motivate you to do more.

“The award is also to catalyze for you to continue to give your best to the service of the nation as you have always been doing.

“We are one people with a common destiny as exemplified by the founding fathers of Nigeria, most especially those from the northern extraction such as Sir Ahmadu Bello, Abubarkar Tafarwa Balewa, Joseph Tarka, Mallam Aminu Kano, Sunday Awoniyi and others, may their souls rest in peace.

“As part of the convention of the group, we try as much as possible to identify with people like you who have demonstrated patriotism to the country,” Bogoro said.

In his response, Otabor who was overwhelmed with joy thanked the group for finding him worthy of the award.

He commended the youth for organizing, and not joining the bandwagon in the society.

“This is quite commendable. When you have many youths constituting themselves as a problem to the country by getting involved in terrorism, banditry, and armed robbery, here you are organizing yourselves for a good course, yours is commendable.

“On behalf of the management of Alliance Hospital and the highly respected top management staff, I wish to formally accept this award, the Saudana Award. Thank you very much for considering me fit for this prestigious award.

I want to assure you that this would encourage us to do even more of what you have already seen in me,” he said.

“I warmly welcome you to Alliance Hospital, Abuja. A one-stop shop for multi-specialty care.

Alliance Hospital was established in 2011, with a clear mandate of stopping medical tourism, because medical tourism has been a big shame to this country.

” With a population of over 200 million people, our nationals are going out of the country for medical care- to India, Egypt, USA and other countries.

“A lot of people talk about the problem and not many people talk about the solution, so I decided that we would be part of the solution rather than just talking about the problem.

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Health

Football Legends to Light Up Nigeria in NICRAT’s World Soccer Legends Cancer Match

Published

4 weeks ago

September 2, 2026

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is set to witness a football spectacle as some of the world’s greatest football legends converge for the First World Soccer Legends War Against Cancer International Charity Football Match Nigeria 2026.

The star-studded event, backed by the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), is designed to combine football entertainment with a major campaign to raise cancer awareness, promote early detection and mobilise resources for prevention and treatment.

The initiative, themed “Play for Prevention, Score for Life,” was unveiled on Wednesday in Abuja with the official launch of the event logo, kits and a 60-day countdown to the international charity match.

The campaign is expected to feature former international football stars while bringing together cancer advocates, government institutions, corporate organisations, development partners and other stakeholders in a united effort against the disease.

Speaking on behalf of NICRAT Director-General, Prof. Usman Aliyu, Dr Margaret Sawyer said the institute was supporting the initiative because of its potential to take cancer-awareness messages to millions of Nigerians.

She said the campaign would go beyond fundraising by educating Nigerians on cancer prevention, early detection and the need to seek medical attention promptly.

According to her, football offers a unique platform for reaching diverse communities, while the influence of football legends could help deliver important health messages to a wider audience.

Earlier, National Coordinator of the Main Organising Committee (MOC), Mr Jacob Onu, said the event was conceived to transcend the boundaries of sport and evolve into a national and international movement against cancer.

Onu said the participation of former football stars would amplify messages on cancer prevention, screening, treatment, research and support for patients and survivors.

He added that the event would also celebrate life, honour those who had lost their lives to cancer and inspire survivors and people currently battling the disease.

“Together, through football, compassion and collective action, we can win the War Against Cancer,” he said.

Onu called on Nigerians across the 774 local government areas to become ambassadors of the campaign by promoting healthy lifestyles, regular medical checks and early medical intervention.

He also appealed to corporate organisations, philanthropists, international organisations, football stakeholders, media organisations and development partners to support the initiative.

The MOC coordinator commended NICRAT, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), sponsors, partners and other stakeholders for their support.

He assured that the organising committee would deliver an event capable of meeting international standards while creating a lasting legacy in cancer awareness, advocacy, humanitarian support and sports development.

In his goodwill message, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Gumel, expressed concern over the rising global cancer burden and called for sustained action beyond the charity match.

Gumel urged the organisers to extend the campaign beyond Abuja to communities across the 36 states, while calling on governments at all levels to strengthen cancer prevention, screening and treatment.

The NOC president pledged his support for the initiative and encouraged Nigerians to make regular cancer screening and periodic health checks a priority.

Also speaking, Director of Cancer Prevention and Control at NICRAT, Dr Usman Mohammed Waziri, reaffirmed the institute’s determination to ensure that the initiative produces a positive and lasting impact on Nigeria’s cancer-control efforts.

With the 60-day countdown officially underway, organisers said the World Soccer Legends Cancer Match would combine the excitement of football with humanitarian action, using the power and influence of football legends to drive a nationwide campaign against cancer.

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