Twenty four hours after the United Bank for Africa (UBA) announced a donation of billions of naira to Africa for the battle against the spread of coronavirus pandemic, the bank has also given out the sum of N500 million to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for the same purpose in the Federal capital.The Vice Chairman of the Bank, Ambassador Joe Keshi who gave out the donation to the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, said that it is part of the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and a show of support to FCTA in the face of coronavirus pandemic.
Keshi expressed concern over the likelihood of a spread in densely populated areas of the country and called on well-meaning Nigerians to join hands to fight the disease.
He said N200 million of the sum is being set aside for the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), adding that the donation is to strengthen the testing capacity of the Centre.
Receiving the cheque from Ambassador Keshi, who led the Bank’s delegation, the Malam Muhammad Musa Bello said the donation is the first large sum of money received by the FCT Administration since the onset of the pandemic.
He commended UBA for such a generous donation, saying that the money would serve as a major boost in the efforts by the Administration to nip the spread of the virus in the bud in the FCT.
He assured that FCTA is working hand in hand with the NCDC to ensure that the organization gets the necessary working tools.
He said that plans are already in motion to grade the road leading to the NCDC testing office in Gaduwa for ease of access, adding that the donation will go a long way to ensure that the job is done as soon as possible.
The Minister who described the Chairman of UBA, Tony Elumelu as a great philanthropist, said he is not surprised that the Financial Institution is the first to make such a donation to the FCT to help fight the pandemic.
