Stanbic IBTC, Vetiva, PZ Come Tops at 5th NSE Corporate Challenge

L-R: Tinuade Awe, Executive Director, Regulation, The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE); Mr. Kamarudeen Kareem Oladosu, National Council Member, NSE; Austin Ani, StanbicIBTC, Winner of the 2018 NSE Corporate Challenge; Titi Ogungbesan, Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited and Daniel Ogunbote, Sales Executive, Rwanda Air; Patrick Adebayo Ajayi, National Council Member, NSE and Ms. Felicia Obozuwa, Divisional Head, Corporate Services FCMB during the 2018 Corporate Challenge at Muri Okunola Park, Lagos on Saturday.

Austin Ani of Stanbic IBTC emerged the overall winner with a completion time of 18.45 minutes at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) annual 5km race, tagged NSE Corporate Challenge, after coming second in the 2017 edition, held on Saturday at Muri Okunola Park, Lagos, with the purpose of raising funds and creating awareness on the fight against cancer.

Paul Alabi of Aluko & Oyebode and Danladi Verheijen of Vetiva came second and third, finishing the race in 19.57 minutes and 20.04 minutes respectively. Paul, who is also not new at the NSE Corporate Challenge, was the overall winner in the 2016 edition.

This year’s edition of NSE Corporate Challenge, themed, “e-Race Cancer”, saw  Ngozi Dozie-Madubiuke of Vetiva, with a completion time of 22.48 minutes, emerged the fastest female while Sadhisha Dave of PZ Cussons, also female, emerged the winner of the Senior Citizen category for runners aged 50 and above, with a race time of 29.10 minutes.

The over 500 runners at the race were joined by outstanding race ambassadors such as Ikechukwu Onunaku, Immaculate Dache, Monica Ogah, Wole Arole the Prophet, Asiri Comedy to mention a few.

Explaining the NSE’s rationale for throwing its weight behind the race, Mr. Oscar N. Onyema, CEO, NSE, who was  represented by Ms Tinuade Awe, Executive Director, Regulations, NSE, said during the event that “the cancer epidemic in Nigeria is huge and is set to rise if urgent actions are not taken to raise awareness about early detection of the disease, and to develop practical strategies to address the increasing cancer burden.  The NSE Corporate Challenge was birthed to minimize cancer and maximise life by stimulating additional awareness about cancer, advocating for the importance of early testing/detection and more importantly raising funds towards the purchase of Mobile Cancer Centres to provide free screening and treatment in Nigeria”.

Started in 2014, the NSE Corporate Challenge is a one-day competitive and fun-filled 5 kilometre walk, jog and run event aimed at promoting health and wellbeing in the Exchange’s operating environment. It is a professionally organized and volunteer-driven initiative involving companies listed on the Exchange, broker dealer firms, non-listed companies and individuals who identify with the initiative.