NACA joins MTN marathon

November 10, 2006 :: ThisDay,Lagos

The National Action Committee on AIDS (NACA) has joined the train of corporate bodies and government partners collaborating with Nigeria's foremost telephony service provider, MTN to put the fight against the scourge of HIV/AIDS on the front burner of national discourse through the 2006 Lagos International Half Marathon.

The marathon this year is dedicated to the fight against the scourge under the theme "Move ahead Run against AIDS" and billed for Lagos on the 2nd of December 2006..

Announcing this, Kola Oyeyemi, Senior Manager, Masterbrands, MTN, applauded the decision of Nigeria 's premier anti-AIDS establishment to join MTN in stemming the ominous tide of HIV/AIDS, adding that it is indicative of the public acknowledgment of the role of sports in the fight against the pandemic.

"Our stated interest of making this year's marathon, which coincides with the fifth anniversary of the MTN brand in Nigeria, the very best marathon held in Nigeria in the pursuit of the public good, in this instance the fight against HIV/AIDS through athletics, permeates every level of the upcoming competition."

A marathon can be fun. It is also quite a physically challenging exercise. This is the reason we have deliberately chosen this year's marathon to highlight how physically debilitating the HIV/AIDS challenge is in our world today with a view to eradicating it."

"We are proud of NACA's willingness to partner with us as it consolidates MTN's year-long collaboration with different government agencies to promote the public good and in this instance will demonstrate MTN's interest in placing the fight against HIV/AIDS on the front burner in Nigeria. It is our desire to create awareness for the global issue and to assist in eradicating the stigma associated with it," he said.