Polaris Bank celebrates 30 Years of Hope, Impact and Partnership.
Recently the Care. Organization. Public. Enlightenment (C.O.P.E) marked three decades of pioneering its initiative in breast cancer awareness, early detection and survivor support with a commemorative event held at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.
The ceremony brought together healthcare professionals, survivors, donors, and corporate partners, led by Polaris Bank, the organisation’s longstanding partner and lead sponsor.
Speaking at the event, Emeritus Professor Osato Giwa Osagie, Chairman of C.O.P.E’s Board of Trustees, recounted his first meeting with the Founder, Mrs. Ebunola Anozie, describing her as a persuasive and passionate woman whose vision has changed the narrative of breast healthcare in Nigeria.
Giwa-Osagie noted that COPE has become a national force for awareness and care, providing free monthly breast screenings, prosthetic bras, and financial assistance to women in need.
He emphasised that the organisation’s next milestone would be the establishment of a permanent C.O.P.E Centre, complete with a screening unit, conference hall, and residential facility for women undergoing treatment or recovery.
The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of C.O.P.E, Mrs. Ebunola Anozie in her remarks reflected on how personal loss birthed a purpose that has endured for 30 years.
“C.O.P.E was born out of grief but it became my way of transforming pain into purpose,” she said. “From a modest awareness campaign in 1995, we have grown into a national movement that has educated millions and provided life saving early detection services for thousands of women. Yet, our work is far from done. We need a permanent home where every woman can find hope, healing, and care.”
She expressed gratitude to Polaris Bank and other corporate partners whose support has kept C.O.P.E’s mission alive and expanding through every economic season.”
A key highlight of the evening was the emotional testimony of Mrs. Agatha Obi, a breast cancer survivor who discovered C.O.P.E during her treatment.
“In 2011, I was told I had breast cancer and would need a mastectomy. It was devastating,” she recalled. “But through C.O.P.E, I found courage, community, and hope. Thirteen years after, I am alive, thriving, and grateful to the organisation that stood by me when I needed it most.
Photo caption:
L-R: Bukola Oluyadi, GH, Customer Expweience & Value management, Polaris Bank; Ebunola Anozie, Founder/CEO, C.O.P.E; Sandra Okoli, Sector Lead, Telecomms, Power and Infrastructure, Polaris Bank at the C.O.P.E’s 30th Anniversary Celebration in Lagos recently.
Representing the Managing Director of Polaris Bank, Mrs. Bukola Oluyadi delivered a goodwill message reaffirming the Bank’s partnership with C.O.P.E. She noted that Polaris Bank is “deeply proud to support to an organisation whose work embodies compassion, resilience, and impact.”
Mrs. Oluyadi commended the C.O.P.E team for their enduring commitment to public enlightenment and healthcare access, assuring that Polaris Bank will remain a steadfast partner in driving initiatives that touch lives and promote national well-being.
The 30th anniversary celebration concluded with renewed pledges from partners and donors to support the organisation’s vision of building a permanent COPE Centre, a symbol of hope for women across Nigeria.
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