In the midst of the doom and gloom, the pervasive fear of the Corona-Virus pandemic, and the flagging faith of Nigerians per their survival for the weeks ahead, the billionaire Chairman of BUA Foundation, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu, has, through his foundation, raised hopes and planted joy in the bosoms of the citizens.
Rabiu who is fondly called ‘Mr Talk and Do’ by many Nigerians, has shown once again that his is not just about making money but making it available as resources for advancing the lot of humanity.
AbdulSamad has made another whooping donation of N3.3 billion to the Task Force on COVID-19 through BUA Foundation, with specific focus on Kano and Lagos States which coronavirus incidents have been on the rise.
According to him, the donation has become imperative due to “the increased rate of spread of the Coronavirus especially in Kano and Lagos despite concerted collective efforts to curb the spread and effects of the virus in Nigeria.”
Commending the leadership shown by the taskforce as well as the NCDC in this fight, Rabiu stated that more needed to be done.
The commitment of the 3.3 billion Naira grant to a working group made of the Presidential Taskforce, NCDC and other stakeholders is donated to equip 2 existing permanent facilities in Kano and Lagos States in collaboration with the teaching hospitals in those states.
The sum of two billion Naira is for the Kano-based intervention and one billion Naira for Lagos state being the two epicenters of this virus in Nigeria.
A sum of N300million will also be made available immediately in cash to the Presidential Task Force to assist with logistical and operation activities of the taskforce.
“The working Group will be expected to use resources at its disposal to ensure these facilities – to be determined by the Working Group – are fully equipped in the shortest possible time. I believe this will effectively help to expand the scope of interventions, ongoing research as well as support already stretched medical facilities dedicated to this fight,” Rabiu stated.
This grant is in addition to BUA’s earlier contributions to the private sector led CA-COVID coalition and donations to other states.
The donation comes almost a month after the Chairman of the Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, announced a cash donation of N1billion to relief fund account with the Central Bank of Nigeria, which he followed up with additional donation of N300 million to Edo, Lagos and Sokoto States and another donation to 9 states of medical and emergency kits and supplies including face masks, testing kits, safety goggles, gloves, personal protective gear.
