The Mike Adenuga Foundation (MAF), established by billionaire, Dr Mike Adenuga Jr., on Monday donated N1.5 billion to the Federal Government and Lagos State government to support Nigeria’s fight against the global Coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19).
The fresh donation is coming even as the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday received a cheque for the sum of N1 billion from the United Bank for Africa (UBA) as part of the bank’s commitment to help curb the devastating effects of the pandemic.
Presenting the UBA cheque to Sanwo-Olu at the State House, Marina, on Sunday evening, the Managing Director of the bank, Mr. Kenneth Uzoka, said the N1 billion donation was in fulfilment of the N5 billion commitment made by the UBA Group Chairman, Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, early last week.
Meanwhile, Mrs Bella Disu, the daughter of Adenuga, presented a cheque for N500 million to Sanwo-Olu, at his office at the State secretariat, Alausa, on behalf of the Foundation on Monday.
Similarly, a representative of the Foundation presented the cheque for N1 billion to the Governor of Central Bank, Mr Godwin Emefiele, in Abuja.
The Apex bank is coordinating the fund raising by corporate bodies in the country.
The fund is to support the initiatives aimed at combating the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the foundation, the presentations are being committed for the wellbeing of the entire Nigerian citizens especially at this time when the country was battling the Coronavirus pandemic.
Adenuga Jr. is the founder of Nigeria’s second national carrier in the telecommunications industry, Globacom.
Presenting the UBA cheque, Uzoka said that as a socially responsible institution, UBA cares for its communities and for Lagos State, which has recorded the highest number of positive cases thus far, needing special attention.
He disclosed that the decision to give Lagos N1 billion was as a result of the important role that the state plays in the economy of not only Nigeria, but Africa as a whole, given its vast population and other key economic factors.
He said: “Given the population of this state and that it is the business nerve centre, we at UBA are committed to lending our support to the state government. So today, we are giving you and the state N1 billion to support your endeavour in fighting the Coronavirus disease.”
The Governor expressed appreciation to the financial institution for the support, saying that the money will go a long way to assist the state in kicking out the pandemic.
Last week, the bank announced a donation of over N5 billion (USD14 million), through the UBA Foundation, to catalyse a comprehensive pan-African response to the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic.