The sum of N100 million has been donated by the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) towards the fight against the deadly coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) in the country.
The money was donated by the development finance institution to address the major financing challenges facing Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.
According to Mr Tony Okpanachi, the Managing Director of the bank established by the federal government, this gesture was a demonstration of the bank’s commitment to the fight against COVID-19 pandemic that has infected over 2.6 million people.
“I wish to express the Bank’s profound appreciation for the measures introduced by the federal government and the initiatives of mobilizing resources towards controlling the spread of the disease in Nigeria.
“The donation is borne out of our sincere concern and commitment towards curtailing the spread of the deadly COVID-19 and finding a lasting solution to the pandemic,” the MD/CEO of the bank said.
Mr Okpanachi described the federal government’s invitation to all Nigerians to support the fight against the pandemic as a clarion call that must be heeded for a better Nigeria.
According to him, “The fight against the corona virus disease is indeed a fight for all of humanity and we must heed the clarion call to come together and demonstrate our commitment towards eradicating the deadly pandemic for a better, safer and more resilient Nigeria.”
While expressing his optimism for a quick and successful eradication of the disease, not only in Nigeria, but in the world at large, the DBN’s Managing Director prayed for all those who, in one way or the other, have been affected by the pandemic.
“Our prayers are with the infected persons, those who have lost their lives to the disease and their bereaved families, the medical personnel at the forefront of this battle, as well as, all those who are managing the efforts of the government in the fight against this pandemic,” he concluded.
COVID-19 is a new fatal virus that has not been previously identified. It was first identified in China, in December 2019.
The virus, which has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), has spread to many countries of the world, including Nigeria.
