Billionaire businessman and philanthropist, Abdulsamad Rabiu has donated an additional N3.3 billion naira to fight the deadly COVID-19 pandemic currently ravaging the country. It will be recalled that the mogul has previously donated N1.6 billion naira; N1 billion through the private sector fund and N600 million to various state governments.
OBSERVERS TIMES learned that in a letter written to the Presidential Task-force on COVID-19, Rabiu announced the donation will be made via his BUA Foundation.
“Based on what is going on especially in Kano at the moment, we have decided in the immediate, to commit a 3.3 billion Naira grant to a working group made of the Presidential Taskforce, NCDC and other stakeholders in equipping 2 existing permanent facilities in Kano and Lagos States – whilst collaborating with the teaching hospitals in those states.”
“To this end, I am immediately committing and making available – through the BUA Foundation, two grants of Two Billion Naira for the Kano-based intervention and One Billion Naira for Lagos state being the two epicentres 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 operational activities of the task force. This grant is in addition to BUA’s earlier contributions to the private sector-led CA-COVID coalition and donations to other states.”
“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.” the letter read in part