General News
Saving Our Men Initiative Targets 50,000 Participants for Lagos Cancer Awareness Walk on November
LAGOS, November 8, 2026** – Saving Our Men Initiative (SOMI), a Nigerian health advocacy organisation, has announced plans to mobilise approximately 50,000 Nigerians for its 2026 Walk for Life, a five-kilometre cancer awareness campaign scheduled for Saturday, November 21, in Lagos.
The walk, which will commence at 7:00 a.m., will begin at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, and terminate at the University of Lagos Sports Centre, Akoka.
Organised during the week of International Men’s Day, the campaign is designed to address the growing burden of cancer in Nigeria, with particular emphasis on men’s health and the importance of breaking the silence surrounding cancer diagnosis and treatment.
The event is open to everyone, including men, women, cancer survivors, families affected by cancer, faith-based organisations, community groups, corporate organisations, students and members of the general public.
According to SOMI, late diagnosis remains a major challenge in Nigeria, often resulting in more complicated treatment procedures, increased medical costs and preventable deaths. Walk for Life 2026 therefore seeks to bridge the awareness gap by encouraging individuals to take proactive steps towards understanding their health and accessing early screening services.
As part of the programme, partner hospitals and diagnostic laboratories will provide health information, screening guidance and referrals to participants. Walkers will also have access to discounted cancer screening services at designated partner centres, including Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) testing for men.
Diagnostic services provider SYNLAB Nigeria has joined the campaign as a diagnostic partner, offering participants a 15 per cent discount on eligible tests.
The importance of the initiative is further underscored by findings from SOMI’s previous community health outreaches across Lagos and Osun States. Of approximately 330 men screened, 44, representing 13.3 per cent, recorded elevated PSA levels, while 38 were referred for further medical evaluation.
The findings also revealed significant gaps in awareness and preventive healthcare, with only 7.9 per cent of the men familiar with PSA testing and just 5.5 per cent having undergone the test previously.
Speaking ahead of the event, Executive Director of SOMI, Dr. Moyinoluwa Akinwumi, emphasised the need to make cancer awareness and early detection a national priority.
“Too many families meet cancer at its last stage. Walk for Life is our way of saying: talk about it, check early, and live. Men especially have stayed silent for too long, and we are walking to change that,” she said.
Similarly, the event coordinator, Majekodunmi Ademola-Bank Esq., said the initiative goes beyond organising a symbolic awareness walk, stressing that participants should leave with a renewed commitment to preventive healthcare.
“We want every walker to leave with more than a T-shirt. We want them to leave with a plan to get screened. Together with our partners, we are bringing screening closer to the people who need it,” he stated.
Adding further visibility to the campaign, popular Nigerian entertainer and social activist, Charly Boy, popularly known as the Area Fada, has thrown his support behind the initiative and confirmed his participation in the November 21 walk.
SOMI said the campaign represents a collective call to action for individuals, families, healthcare professionals, corporate organisations and community leaders to work together in reducing the impact of cancer through awareness, early diagnosis and access to appropriate healthcare services.
The organisation has consequently encouraged Nigerians to participate in the walk and use the opportunity to prioritise their health while supporting families and individuals affected by cancer.
### EVENT DETAILS
**Event:** SOMI Walk for Life 2026
**Date:** Saturday, November 21, 2026
**Time:** 7:00 a.m.
**Distance:** 5 kilometres
**Starting Point:** Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos
**Destination:** University of Lagos Sports Centre, Akoka
**Expected Participation:** Approximately 50,000 people
**Organiser:** Saving Our Men Initiative (SOMI)
### ABOUT SAVING OUR MEN INITIATIVE
Saving Our Men Initiative (SOMI) is a Nigerian health advocacy organisation committed to promoting men’s health, cancer awareness and preventive healthcare. Through community screening outreaches, health talks, partnerships with medical professionals and digital health education, the organisation works to improve public understanding of cancer and encourage early detection.
SOMI has conducted cancer awareness and screening campaigns across Lagos, Ogun and Osun States.
### MEDIA ENQUIRIES
**Saving Our Men Initiative – Walk for Life 2026 Organising Committee**
Phone: +234 707 819 9819
Email: care@savingourmen.com
Website: www.savingourmen.com
Address: 48B Lasode Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Journalists are invited to cover the event. Interviews with the SOMI leadership and organising committee can be arranged before and after the walk.