STL Capital Group, in partnership with the Care Organisation Public Enlightenment (COPE), has strengthened efforts to promote breast cancer awareness and early detection through its annual campaign, which features an 8km awareness walk and free breast cancer screening.
The initiative marks the fourth consecutive year of partnership between the two organisations. It seeks to educate the public about breast cancer, encourage early detection and improve access to screening. Educational materials are also distributed to promote awareness and encourage timely medical attention.
Group Managing Director of STL Capital Group, Funmi Ekundayo, said the organisation had expanded its support for the campaign following its transition from STL Trustees into a capital market holding company comprising three companies.
She explained that the programme aims to reach more people through sustained awareness and advocacy, stressing that breast cancer education should involve both men and women.
“Essentially, you can see that we’ve had the walk for almost an hour now, and we’ve been distributing flyers to both male and female, because as you know, breast cancer is not gender sensitive. So we’ve been distributing the flyers, doing the public announcement to create awareness, and to have a serious advocacy towards breast cancer,” Ekundayo said.
Ekundayo encouraged members of the public to take advantage of available screening services, noting that early detection is vital to saving lives and improving health outcomes.
“We believe people should take advantage of these opportunities to get screened, as early detection saves lives. We are passionate about supporting COPE and are delighted to continue partnering with them to raise breast cancer awareness,” she stated.
She reaffirmed the company’s commitment to the initiative as part of its corporate social responsibility efforts, adding, “We will continue to partner with COPE and every other NGO that shares the same ideals with us as an organisation to support what they do.”
STL Capital Group’s Executive Director, Akin Oni, urged corporate organisations to increase their contributions to public health initiatives, particularly those that promote early diagnosis and treatment.
Oni noted that fear and limited awareness could discourage people from seeking medical attention, adding that public education was essential to encouraging individuals to understand their health status. He also called on businesses to take corporate social responsibility seriously, noting that their efforts could address other public health concerns beyond cancer awareness.
“My message to other corporate organisations is to take corporate social responsibility seriously. It may not necessarily be in the area of cancer; it could be polio or any other public health issue. This is the least we can do, especially as cancer remains a major health concern, with increasing attention being drawn to its impact,” Oni said.
He further stressed the importance of early medical assessment, explaining that timely diagnosis improves treatment options and survival outcomes.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of COPE, Ebunola Anibaba, expressed appreciation for STL Capital Group’s continued partnership, noting that its support had helped sustain the free breast cancer screening initiative.
Anibaba explained that COPE provides free breast ultrasound screening on the third Saturday of every month, with support from corporate partners such as STL Capital Group. The programme enables women to access essential screening services without financial barriers.
She advised women to seek medical assessment if they notice unusual changes, including breast lumps, changes in breast size or shape, nipple inversion, unusual discharge or skin puckering. She also urged them not to allow fear of a possible diagnosis to prevent them from getting screened, emphasising that early intervention leads to better outcomes.
Through its annual awareness walk, public education campaign and free screening services, STL Capital Group and COPE are working to improve breast cancer awareness, encourage early detection and support access to essential healthcare services.
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