The Organisation, Public, Enlightenment (C.O.P.E) foundation is celebrating its 30th anniversary this October, marking three decades of advocacy, early detection, and support for breast cancer survivors across Nigeria.
Established on the belief that no woman should face breast cancer alone, the organisation has grown into a nationwide movement that has impacted millions of lives.
Founded in 1995 by Mrs. Ebunola Anozie, after losing both parents to cancer and surviving her own breast cancer scare, C.O.P.E was born out of a deeply personal conviction. What started as one woman’s mission to create a place of credible information and care, and to ensure her parents’ deaths were not in vain, has become one of Nigeria’s most trusted voices in breast health advocacy and care.
Over the past three decades, C.O.P.E has redefined the landscape of breast cancer awareness and survivor support across Nigeria. The organisation has reached over 7.5 million women and families through awareness and education campaigns, conducted more than 100,000 free screenings, provided counselling to over 1,400 women, and supported more than 350 survivors with post-treatment care, therapy, and empowerment programmes.
Reflecting on this milestone, Mrs. Anozie said: “C.O.P.E has thrived because of our commitment to being compassionate and consistent. We’ve made it our motto to always show up. It doesn’t matter whether we have a lot or a little because we know even the smallest act of care can change the course of a woman’s life.” She also acknowledged the critical role of long-term partners, whose support has sustained the organisation’s mission.
“We’re deeply grateful to all our partners: Polaris Bank, Variant Advisory, Aradel Holdings, Engr. Afolabi Oladele, Access Bank, STL Trustees, CreditDirect, SKLD Integrated Services Ltd., Idachaba Family, Ginger Soul Lifestyle, Pfizer, Hard Rock Cafe, and General Electric for standing with us over the years. Together, we’ve positively impacted the lives of young girls and women across Nigeria.”
Despite the progress made, Mrs. Anozie emphasised that the need for greater awareness, access, and survivor support remains urgent. She noted that the current C.O.P.E facility can no longer accommodate the growing number of women seeking help. The organisation’s next chapter will focus on building a permanent home, a comprehensive breast cancer centre that brings screening, treatment support, counselling, referrals, education, research, and survivor services together under one roof.
“We’ve come this far through hard work and faith, guided by the belief that no woman should face breast cancer alone,” she said. “But there’s still more work to be done. Our goal is to reach ten million women by 2030, through expanded screenings, community education, and partnerships that make early detection a national priority.”
The 30th Anniversary Celebration will be held on November 13, 2025, at the Marriott Hotel, Lagos, supported by Polaris Bank. The event will bring together survivors, volunteers, donors, and well-wishers to honour three decades of impact and chart a new path forward. This milestone gathering will also serve as a rallying point for continued collaboration among government agencies, private sector partners, and the public, reaffirming C.O.P.E’s mission to reduce the breast cancer mortality rate and improve survivor outcomes nationwide.