Runcie C. W. Chidebe (born 26 December 1985) is a young Nigerian cancer control advocate and social entrepreneur. He is the founder and executive director [1][2][3][4][5] of Project PINK BLUE- Health & Psychological Trust Centre, a Nigerian cancer non-profit organization that is engaged in cancer awareness, free cancer screenings, advocacy, patient navigation and support to indigent women battling with cancer.[6][7] He is one of the 1000 winners of Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme(TEEP) in 2015.[8] An alumnus of the United States Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) [9][10]
Chidebe was born on 26 December 1985 in Talata Mafara, Zamfara State to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Chidebe. He is the last of five sons. He hails from Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra state.[2]
He attended Government Secondary School, Gwarimpa, Abuja and later obtained Diploma in Social Work with distinctions and bachelor's degree in Psychology, Sociology & Anthropology, both from University of Nigeria, Nsukka where he emerged as the 2011/2012 best graduating student from his department.[2][11] He also has a certificate on Entrepreneurship from Enterprise Development Centre in 2015.
During his one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 2013 at Abuja, he carried out a community development project on breast cancer campaign through which he provided free screening and counseling to indigent women in Kabusa, Kuje, and Kubwa. The impact of his NYSC project propelled him to establish Project PINK BLUE.[2] Over 700 women have directly benefited from his free cancer screening while more than a million has been reached through his campaigns.[12] A champion of cancer research and better patient care, Runcie Chidebe has demonstrated to his native Nigeria the importance of volunteerism and collective action for causes that benefit society.[13]
Chidebe has called on Nigeria's Federal Government to make national health a priority;[14] to save her women, men and children dying of cancer. By establishing the National Agency on Cancer Control, there will be more awareness and significant reduction in the prevalence of cancer in Nigeria.[15] Chidebe has recently co-authored an article on Advancing access and equity: the vision of a new generation in cancer control.[16]
Year | Class | Category | Awarding body | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | Alumnus | Top 1000 African Entrepreneurs TEEP 2015 | Tony Elumelu Foundation | |
2015 | Winner | Young Cancer Leader Award at World Cancer Leaders' Summit (WCLS), Istanbul, Turkey | Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), Geneva, Switzerland. | |
2015 | Recipient | Green October Humanitarian Award | La Mode Magazine. | |
2015 | Recipient | Award of Recognition for contribution to National Development in Health Sector | Harvest House Christian Center, Abuja. | |
2016 | Recipient | 2016 Community Service Award | Rotaract Club District 9140 | |
2016 | Alumnus | 2016 U.S. International Visitor Leadership Program(IVLP) | U.S. Department of State | |
2018 | Winner | World Cancer Day Spirit Award | Union for International Cancer Control,Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[17] |
The content is sourced from: https://handwiki.org/wiki/Biography:Runcie_C._W._Chidebe