COVID-19: Nigeria’s Most Generous Philanthropists, By Olusanya Anjorin
POLITICS DIGEST – This strange thing appeared in Wuhan and the atmosphere of the whole world changed perceptibly, at the moment of writing this script, the coronavirus pandemic has continues to spread and has reached nearly every corner of the world, Nigerias philanthropists are urgently working to keep communities safe and strengthen fragile health systems to combat the COVID-19 outbreak. No one knows for certain what the future holds or how long this disruption will last, we can all rest in knowing that God is in control. But lets play our part.
Heres what Nigerias wealthiest people and their companies are doing to respond to the worsening coronavirus outbreak in the country. The apex Bank (The Central Bank of Nigeria) rolled out the names of Nigerians that have donated to fight against coronavirus in the country.
This includes:
Abdulsamad Rabiu: The Nigerian cement billionaire has donated $2.6 million (N1 billion) to a COVID-19 relief fund registered with the Central Bank of Nigeria. His company, BUA Cement, has also donated $772,000 (N300 million) to Sokoto, Edo and Ogun states to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Alh Rabiu has also ordered testing kits and medical supplies such as face masks, safety goggles and gloves for nine states in Nigeria.
Aliko Dangote & Access Bank Plc: Nigerias biggest lender by assets, Access Bank is teaming up with Africas richest man Aliko Dangote to provide treatment and isolation centers across Africas most populous nation as it braces for the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mike Adenuga Foundation (MAF), established by a billionaire, Dr Mike Adenuga Jr.donated N1.5 billion to Federal Government and Lagos State government to support Nigerias fight against the global Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).
Modupe and Folorunsho Alakija: The Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Famfa Oil Limited, Modupe and Folorunsho Alakija have donated N1billion to support the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria.
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United Bank for Africa Plc, another leading Nigerian lender, said it will donate about 5 billion naira ($13 million) toward providing assistance to the country and 19 others across Africa to support their governments in combating the viral infection.
Atlas Mara-backed Union Bank has also partnered with 54gene, a U.S.-based genetic research company, using a $500,000 funding facility to increase Covid-19 testing capacity in Nigeria to 1,000 daily.
Other contributors are Standard Chartered, Multichoice Nigeria Limited, Rand Merchant Bank, Heritage Bank, Polaris Bank, Takagro Chemicals Limited, Mrs Etuh Foundation, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tiniubu ,Segun Agbaje of GTB, Tony Elumelu of UBA, Jim Ovia of Zenith bank, Femi Otedola and Oba Otudeko of First Bank of Nigeria Plc also donated the sum of N1B to support federal government fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Altogether, Nigerias billionaires have given more than N15.325 Billion in donations to curtail the spread of COVID-19 in the country and still counting
Most of it will go toward treatment, tracking and diagnostics, who say we cant tilt some towards developing vaccines. It is high time we depend less on the developed world for most things. When the chips are down, we can stand and raise our arms to be helped.
Nigerians wants to thank the aforementioned donors and those who have donated but have not been mentioned for their contributions for this outbreak. For the rest of us, it might not be about bringing money, your time, your services and your products will all be helpful at this time to bring the pandemic under control.
This very moment, its easy to be overwhelmed and bored because of lockdown but I tell you we have to be grateful that death is still in a single digit. What you can do is to be part of the solution by following simple instruction outlined by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC to contain and prevent the spread of the infection in Nigeria.
History provides us with a vivid example of nation who did not follow governments directives and what followed was a gory annihilation of souls. We should therefore mimic the nation that had succeeded in suppressing this pandemic, in this case China.
In most western world, the holders of these funds are ultimately accountable to the masses. Publishing in details as an infographic and publishing online for public consumption. At this critical crossroad, Nigeria cannot afford financial mismanagement of donated funds.
Anjorin contributes this piece from Lagos.
