Arik Airline has distributed food items to some communities in Lagos State in its support for residents to cushion their hardship occasioned by the lockdown over the coronavirus disease.
Also, another philanthropic body, the Save the Children International (SCI), has announced the donation of N50 million worth of personal protection equipment (PPE) and infection prevention and control (IPC) materials to support the COVID-19 response actions of the Lagos State and the Federal Capital Territory.
Yesterday, Arik distributed hundreds of bags of rice and beans to residents of the Mafoluku-Murtala Muhammed International Airport community and those in the Orile Agege axis.
The airline explained that the gesture was part of its corporate social responsibility to complement government’s efforts at providing succour for residents facing economic hardship occasioned by the COVID-19 crisis.
The Community Development Association Chairman at Mafoluku, Otunba Nathaniel Adebukola, said three communities comprising Abolaji Osundeyi, Ewu and Olowoporoku would benefit from the donated items.
Adebukola commended Arik for remembering the communities “at this critical time” and urged other corporate organisations to take a cue from the airline.
The Arik Head of Business, West and Central Africa, Sylvester Egogo, said, “We are here as part of our corporate social responsibility (CSR) to communities where we operate. We are aware of the situation in the country.
“We know government can’t do everything so the management of Arik has decided to provide the palliatives to ameliorate some of their issues.”
SCI explained that its donations would enhance the government’s capacity towards containing the spread of the virus and help to sustain the ongoing health care responses to patients already infected by the disease.
The body’s Interim Country Director, Mercy Gichuhi, said, “It is our responsibility to protect vulnerable children and their families from this disease, and we need to support our government partners who are at the front line in the coronavirus response.”
The SCI donations, made through the support of the Femi Otedola Fund and the DJ Cuppy Foundation, included protective gowns, eye goggles, facemasks, gloves and other vital health supplies.
DJ Cuppy, whose real name is Ifeoluwa and is Billionaire Otedola’s daughter, noted that the most vulnerable Nigerian children and their families were bearing the biggest burden of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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