The Kwara State Government has commended Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, Chairman, BUA Group; Chief Tony Elumelu, and the United Bank for Africa (UBA) for their financial support to strengthen the campaigns against the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.
Mr Rafiu Ajakaye, spokesman of the Kwara State Technical Committee on COVID-19, said this in a statement on Saturday.
“The government appreciates the N1 billion donation that Alhaji Rabiu has made to seven states of the federation, including Kwara State, to bolster the national response to this pandemic.
“Similarly, the government is profoundly grateful to Mr Elumelu and the UBA for their donation of N28.5 million to the Kwara State Government to combat this crisis.
“These gestures, which are a Corporate Social Responsibility at its finest, are most welcome at this critical time when government’s resources are understandably stretched because of the global oil crisis partly engineered by this unexpected health emergency that threatens the entire human race,” he said.
Ajakaye said the government would need and appreciate all the help it can get to combat the pandemic.
He called on other corporate bodies and philanthropists to donate to the Technical Committee to help its effort to curtail the virus.
“Donations can be made to the committee through Kwara State COVID-19 Support Bank Account 1022751448 at UBA.
“Corporate bodies or individuals wishing to assist the state may either pay into this account, donate essential materials for government to take care of the poor, or do their own private support to persons of their choice,” Ajakaye added.
The committee however cautioned people against politicising the global pandemic for selfish gains.
“The nature of the enemy we face is such that all hands must be on deck and all of us must forget making any political mileage out of the situation while concentrating our energy only on curtailing it immediately.
“Anyone who wishes to contribute anything should please send it through the right channels.
“This time calls for sober reflection. It is no time to score cheap political gains at the expense of public health.
“The human race has never been so vulnerable than it is now and the fight requires all seriousness and sincerity to win.
“Kwara, which is under partial lockdown, currently has no confirmed case of COVID-19, but is working hard to prevent its spread in the state,” the statement read in part.nan
