Otedola to donate N1 billion in fight against COVID-19

Billionaire Femi Otedola has pledged to donate N1 billion to help in the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria.

This comes a few months after he donated N5 billion to the Save the Children Foundation.

"I will be donating N1 billion towards the eradication of COVID-19 across Nigeria. We must all do what we can to flatten the curve", he wrote.

Meanwhile, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has praised the prominent Nigerians and companies who donated towards the fight against COVID-19.

A statement issued through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, reads:

"President Muhammadu Buhari has saluted the public-spiritedness of wealthy Nigerians and organizations for standing up to be counted in the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.

"The President commends members of the Nigerian Private Sector Coalition Against Covid-19, made of people like Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu of BUA Group, Femi Otedola, Tony Elumelu, Herbert Wigwe, Segun Agbaje and Jim Ovia of UBA, Access, GT, and Zenith Banks, respectively, for contributing N1 billion each, and being in the vanguard of encouraging others in the private sector to do same.

"UBA has equally donated the sum of N5 billion to Nigeria and Africa, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pledged N50 million, while First Bank is partnering with government, the United Nations, and innovative technological firms to provide e-learning solutions to at least one million children under its ‘Keep Them Engaged, Keep Them Safe’ initiative.

"The President extols every other helping hand that has been lent by individuals, groups and organizations, which may not necessarily be in the public domain, noting that God who sees all things will abundantly recompense.

"President Buhari recommends these laudable strides to other high net-worth Nigerians and organizations, stressing that hand in hand, the country will overcome the challenges brought by the pandemic, and chart new course in nationalism and brotherhood".