·         Urges others to emulate their noble deeds
·         Promises judicious use of resources
 
The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, Saturday, expressed gratitude to private individuals, corporate organisations and religious bodies that donated funds and property to aid the State Government’s fight against the spread of the Coronavirus.
 
In a statement, he personally signed, the Governor named high net-worth Nigerians and organisations that had given property, financial and moral assistance to the State Government in the fight against COVID-19 under the aegis of COVID-19 Pandemic Support Fund.
 
They include former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Adejare Adeboye; the Chairman of BUA Group of companies, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu; and the Founder of Fate Foundation, Mr. Fola Adeola.
 
“The Good Samaritans,” he said responded promptly and selflessly responded to the plea by the State Government for help from well-meaning Nigerians and foreign development agencies to aid the fight against COVID-19.
 
According to Gov. Abiodun, both Chief Obasanjo and Mr. Adeola donated their private residence and property in Abeokuta, the State Capital, for use by the Government as isolation centres for suspected patients of COVID-19 within the State, while Pastor Adeboye donated an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds and ventilators for the treatment of patients and other equipment at Redeemer’s Health Centre, Mowe.
 
Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, the Chairman of BUA, donated the sum of 100 million Naira as relief support, and made a pledge of medical supplies to Ogun State, Governor Abiodun promised to ensure transparent use of all voluntary donations, while he urged other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the kind gesture.
 
“I want to personally assure the entire citizenry of Ogun State that I will ensure the judicious use of these donations of funds and property towards the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic”, he said, while also urging other well-meaning Nigerians to follow their lead and noble examples.
 
The Governor described the pandemic as a global challenge deserving of a cooperative front that would stop the virus from further spreading.
 
Gov. Abiodun, “This pandemic poses a collective challenge and together, we must join hands in fighting it. We will confront it. We will slow it down (and) we will defeat it”.