... As C.O.P.E. founder reflects on the personal experiences that inspired her 31-year journey and the growth of her breast cancer advocacy organisation
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| Ebunola Anozie, founder of the Care Organisation Public Enlightenment (C.O.P.E.) |
For Ebunola Anozie, founder of the Care Organisation Public Enlightenment (C.O.P.E.), the decision to leave a promising career in banking for breast cancer advocacy was not part of an original career plan. It emerged from personal experiences, painful family losses and a breast scare that changed her understanding of the importance of breast health awareness.
Established and registered in October 1995, C.O.P.E. has devoted more than three decades to breast cancer awareness, education, screening and support in Nigeria. A member of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), the organisation has grown from its early awareness activities into a breast cancer resource organisation serving women, students, survivors and caregivers.
In this first part of an exclusive interview with Princess Adeola Shittu, Publisher of Event Diary Lifestyle, Anozie takes readers back to the experiences that shaped her decision to leave banking, the early days of C.O.P.E., the people and organisations that supported its growth, and the accountability principles that have helped sustain its work.
You have spent 31 years building the Care Organisation Public Enlightenment (C.O.P.E.) and advocating breast cancer awareness. Take us back to the beginning. Before becoming an advocate, you were a banker. How did that transition happen, and what first inspired you to devote your life to this cause?
First of all, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to speak with you again. I am always happy to associate myself with the media. I am a friend of the house.
Before I became an advocate, I worked in a bank, and I was doing quite well. My journey into breast cancer advocacy was not something I had planned from the beginning. Rather, it evolved from personal experiences that changed my outlook on life.
I am the last born of a family of five. I lost my mother to colorectal cancer in 1970, when she was just 35 years old. I was seven at the time. She was in England, and her body was brought back to Nigeria. Losing her at such a young age left a vacuum in my life.
Then, in January 1995, I lost my father to stomach cancer, medically known as gastric cancer. I was very close to him. He was my buddy and best friend. I was something of a tomboy, and he often teased me about wanting to be a lady when I was already behaving like a boy.
His death affected me deeply. After his passing, I travelled to the United States for a vacation. While I was there, I became more aware of breast cancer awareness campaigns and mobile screening services that made it easier for women to access examinations.
I also experienced a breast scare of my own. I went to a hospital because I wanted to have a mammogram and was prepared to pay for it. However, the doctor explained that, considering my age at the time, an ultrasound might be a more appropriate first examination.
That experience made me curious. I began asking questions, reading and trying to understand breast cancer and what women needed to know about it. The loss of my parents, particularly my father, and the deep bond we shared strengthened my determination to do something meaningful in this area. My own breast scare also made me realise how important it was for women to have access to reliable information and appropriate medical care.
Eventually, I made the difficult decision to leave my well-paying job and establish the Care Organisation Public Enlightenment (C.O.P.E.) in October 1995. I wanted to turn those painful personal experiences into something meaningful that could educate, support and make a difference in the lives of others.
I would also say that I was the first registered breast cancer advocate in Nigeria. Over the years, I have attended several local and international conferences, training programmes and seminars on breast cancer to broaden my knowledge and strengthen my work in this field. C.O.P.E. has also received several awards in recognition of its contributions to breast cancer awareness and advocacy.
One thing that gives me particular joy today is seeing higher institutions and undergraduate students making use of our documentation for their academic projects and theses. It is encouraging to know that the work we have done over the years has become a resource for research and learning. It shows that the information and knowledge we have gathered are contributing to a wider understanding of breast cancer.
When you started the Care Organisation Public Enlightenment (C.O.P.E.) in 1995, what was the situation like, and what did you have to do to get the organisation's work off the ground?
In the beginning, we did not have the screening equipment and facilities that we have today. We started with what we had, concentrating on educating women and helping them understand their breasts and the importance of paying attention to changes.
We conducted examinations, kept records and tried to create a place where women could receive information and guidance. We wanted women to understand that they did not have to face their fears alone.
Two of the organisations that supported us in those early days were Cadbury and UBA Bank. We spent time screening female staff members at Cadbury and teaching them breast self-examination. Cadbury supported us when we were still trying to establish ourselves, and that encouragement helped us continue. UBA also made a significant investment in our awareness efforts, sponsoring COPE to take breast cancer awareness campaigns to seven states across Nigeria. Both organisations were among our first investors and clients, and their support helped us spread the message that early detection of breast cancer can save lives and breasts. Their involvement also encouraged other organisations to embrace our mission.
Some people who knew me from my previous employment wondered why I had left the finance sector to pursue this work. When I began appearing on television to demonstrate breast self-examination, some of my former bosses thought I had made an unusual decision. Interestingly, some of them later became supporters of the organisation.
Those early experiences taught me that you must believe in what you are doing. You may not have everything you need at the beginning, but you have to start somewhere and keep working.
From those early days, C.O.P.E. has developed several aspects of its work. What are the main services you provide today, and what achievements are you most proud of?
Our work has grown, but our purpose remains the same. We screen, counsel, refer, educate, enlighten and nurture.
We want women to have access to information and screening, but we also want them to know what to do when a concern is discovered. If something requires further investigation, we guide them towards appropriate medical assessment.
We provide free breast ultrasound screening on the third Saturday of the month from February to November, depending on available resources and support. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, we try to organise additional activities where sponsorship permits.
Women come to us from different parts of Lagos and neighbouring states. Some travel from places such as Abeokuta, Ibadan and Ikorodu. This shows the need for accessible services, particularly for women who may find it difficult to obtain screening elsewhere.
I am proud that we have continued this work for 31 years. It has taken commitment, faith and the support of people who believe in our mission. Every woman who receives information, comes for screening or gets guidance when she needs further care reminds us why we started.
Building and sustaining an organisation for 31 years comes with its own demands. What have been some of the experiences along the way, and what has helped C.O.P.E. remain committed to its mission?
Although we have had our challenges, we started this organisation for a purpose, and I have invested a great deal in it. I would rather not dwell on the difficulties. I prefer to focus on how far we have come.
I want to appreciate our Board of Trustees, headed by Emeritus Professor Osato F. Giwa-Osagie, with Mrs. Temilola Adepetun, Founder, SKLD Integrated Services Ltd, is our vice-chairwoman, and the other members for believing in C.O.P.E., standing by us and continually referring people to the organisation.
We all understand that breast cancer treatment can be very expensive. This is one of the reasons we continue to advocate for regular breast screening. It helps women become more aware of their breast health and supports early detection and timely management.
Our partners and supporters have also played important roles in sustaining our work. Aradel Holdings donated a well-equipped breast cancer facility building to support our activities, while Access Bank and Polaris Bank donated breast screening machines. Pfizer also supported the production of a breast self-examination video to educate women. These are some of the contributions that have helped us sustain and expand our services over the years.
In recognition of those who have supported our mission, we inducted them into our Hall of Fame under the gold, silver and bronze categories. Our gold-category partners include Polaris Bank, Variant Advisory, Aradel Holdings, Engr. Afolabi Oladele, Access Bank and STL Trustees. CreditDirect is in the silver category, while SKLD Integrated Services Ltd., the Idachaba Family, Ginger Soul Lifestyle, Pfizer, Hard Rock Cafe and General Electric are among our bronze-category supporters.
We are grateful to every individual and organisation that has believed in our mission and contributed to our work. Their support has helped us reach more women, provide services and make breast health information more accessible. We do not take any of these contributions for granted.
Beyond the support you receive, what do you think has helped C.O.P.E. sustain the confidence of its partners and donors over the years?
One thing that has helped us over the last 31 years is accountability. We account for the resources entrusted to us. Every contribution we receive is properly recorded, and we maintain records of the support that comes into the organisation.
We also have a system for tracking our screening services. Every woman who comes for screening receives a card bearing a serial number that can be traced. The card also identifies the sponsor responsible for that particular screening. This enables us to track the cards and ensure that the support provided is used for its intended purpose.
For us, accountability is very important. When people support an organisation, they should have confidence that their contributions are properly recorded and used for the purpose for which they were given. We believe that when people entrust you with their resources, you must be able to account for what you have received and what you have done with it. That responsibility is something we take seriously.
Watch out for Part Two: Anozie discusses the signs women should not ignore, men's breast cancer, support for survivors, the financial burden of treatment and her vision for a comprehensive breast cancer centre.
