By Muhyideen Jimoh

The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, on Thursday in Abuja, inaugurated a 13-member committee to organise the maiden international charity football against cancer as part of advocacy against cancer prevention.

The minister, who was represented by Prof. Usman Aliyu, the Director-General, National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment (NICRAT), charged the committee to deliver a world class event.

The event, tagged “World Soccer Legends Against Cancer”, is meant to converge Nigerian and world football stars in Nigeria at a yet to be announced date for the football extravaganza.

The minister, therefore, charged the committee members to bring their expertise to bear in organising a befitting event for the good of humanity.

He said “this initiative embodies the spirit of unity and compassion as we come together to fight a disease that knows no boundaries or social strata.

“The World Soccer Legends Against Cancer initiative serves as a beacon of hope and solidarity in our collective global fight against this insidious disease,” he said.

Pate also charged the committee on prudence, transparency and accountability, while urging them to develop and implement a comprehensive action plan for the event.

Earlier, the Vice Chairman of the Committee, Mainasara Illo,  a veteran broadcaster and sports administrator, said “the committee will immediately swing into action to put in place modalities for a befitting event.”

He said there was a great nexus between sports and such health campaigns that could be explored to create awareness.

“We want to use sports, sports personalities and sporting events to bring greater awareness to the devastating effects of cancer and help in the fight against this very deadly disease,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee, headed by Gbenga Elegbeleye, the Chairman, Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), who was unavoidably absent at the inauguration, has other eminent sport administrators. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu