United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) on Thursday announced a donation of over 5 billion Naira (USD14 million), through the UBA Foundation, towards finding a comprehensive pan-African response to the ravaging coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The donation announced via a series of tweets on the bank’s verified account on Thursday, “will provide significant and much needed support to Nigeria and 19 other African countries, by supplying relief materials, critical care facilities, and financial support to Governments,” according to the bank.
Read the tweet below:
“We Will Provide N5 billion(U$14 million) COVID-19 Relief Support Across Africa to catalyze a comprehensive pan-African response to the fight against the #Coronavirus pandemic, we’ll provide N5 billion to #COVID19 relief support across Africa through the @UBAFoundation.
“The donation will provide significant and much needed support to Nigeria and 19 other African countries, by supplying relief materials, critical care facilities, and financial support to Governments. Our support programme will be allocated as follows:
N1 billion (USD2.8 million) to Lagos State Government in Nigeria
N500 million (USD1.4 million) to Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja
N1 billion (USD2.8 million) to the remaining 35 states in Nigeria.
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N1.5 billion (USD4.2 million) to UBA’s presence countries in Africa
N1 billion (USD2.8 million) for Medical Centres with equipment and supplies
Free Telemedicine call centre facility
“We’ll fund a medical centre immediately in Lagos, Nigeria, with beds for isolation & ICU facilities, managed & operated in partnership with @Heirs_Holdings healthcare subsidiary, #AvonMedicalHospital.
“In addition, we’re providing a free telemedicine platform, that is physician-led, to provide direct access to medical advice to citizens, in compliance with social distancing requirements.
“Chairman, @TonyOElumelu, stated ‘This is a time when we must all play our part.
‘This global pandemic must bring citizens, governments & business leaders together – & quickly. As we see a rapidly increasing number of cases of the coronavirus in Nigeria & Africa, the private sector has to work hand in hand with various Governments, in stemming the spread.
‘We commend the efforts of governments & we‘re keen to partner & contribute our resources to the collective effort, that’ll ensure the response to the pandemic is swift & effective.’