By Dayo Omoogun
In response to the appeal for donations made by the Private Sector Coalition Against the Coronavirus disease (CACOVID), 37 (thirty-seven) public spirited Nigerians and corporate bodies have taken up the challenge and have contributed the sum of N15b as at Wednesday.
This announcement was contained in a statement issued on its behalf by the Director, Corporate Communication of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Isaac Okorafor on Wednesday.
The donors who made the N15b possible include Central bank of Nigeria and Aliko Dangote who donated N2billion each, while Abdul Samad Rabiu (Bua Sugar Refinery); Segun Agbaje (GTB); Tony Elumelu (UBA); Oba Otudeko (First Bank); Jim Ovia (Zenith Bank); Herbert Wigwe (Access Bank) and Femi Otedola of Amperion Power Distribution donated N1 Billion each to the fund.
Other donors include Pacific Holding Ltd, Union Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, Standard Chartered Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Citi Bank Nigeria Ltd, FCMB, Fidelity Bank, ECOBank, African Steel Mills and Multichoice Nigeria Limited, FSDH Merchant Bank, FBN Merchant Bank, Rand Merchant Bank, Coronation Merchant Bank, Sun Trust Bank, Providus Bank, Wema Bank, Unity Bank, Heritage Bank, Nova Merchant Bank, Polaris Bank, and Keystone Bank.
Others who also made the list of 37 donors to the Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) Relief Fund domiciled at the CBN are Globus Bank, Titan Trust Bank, Takagro Chemicals Ltd, Ahmadu Mahmoud and Handy Capital Ltd.
While thanking the donors for their contributions, the Coalition appealed for more donations from other Nigerians and corporate bodies, stressing that Nigeria could overcome the scourge with all hands on deck.