UBA provides N5bn as relief support for COVID-19 across Africa

UNITED Bank of Africa (UBA) has announced a donation of N5billion (US$ 14 million) through the UBA Foundation as a response to combat the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic.

The Bank in an announcement by the UBA Group Chairman, Chief Tony Elumelu will deploy this donation to provide significant and much needed support for Nigeria and 19 other African Countries by providing relief materials, critical care facilities and financial support to governments.

The support will be allocated as follows, N1 billion (US$2.8 million) to Lagos State Government of Nigeria.

N500 million (US$1.4 million) to Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja

Another N1 billion (US$2.8 million) to the remaining 35 states in Nigeria

N1.5 billion (US$4.2 million) to UBA’s presence countries in Africa

And N1 billion (US$2.8 million) for Medical Centres with equipment and Supplies Free Tele-medicine Call centre Facilities

UBA also announced it will fund a medical centre immediately n Lagos, Nigeria with beds for isolation and Intensive Care Units (ICU) facilities managed and operated in partnership with Heirs Holdings’ Healthcare subsidiary, Avon Medical Hospital.

The bank went further stating that it will provide free tele-medicine platform that is physician-led, to provide direct access to medical advise to citizens in compliance with social distancing requirements.

Elumelu stated,” This is a time when we must play our part. This global pandemic must bring citizens, government and business leaders together- and quickly. As we see a rapidly increasing number of cases of the coronavirus in Nigeria and Africa, the private sector has to work hand in hand with various governments, in stemming the spread of this global pandemic.

“We commend the efforts of governments and we are keen to partner and contribute our resources to the collective effort, that will ensure the response to the pandemic is swift and effective.

“Operating in 20 African countries and globally in the United Kingdom, United States and France, the United Bank of Africa has a strong record of supporting its communities through challenging times.