Ecobank Group said it has made about $3 million worth of donations to facilitate the ongoing global fight against the Coronavirus pandemic. These donations were made in the forms of cash transfers, distribution of medical equipment, distribution of food supplies, and dissemination of awareness campaigns about the contagious virus.
A statement seen by Nairametrics noted that the donations will benefit all the countries where the transnational bank currently operates. As you may well know, Ecobank Group’s subsidiary in Nigeria donated the sum of N250 million to the Nigeria Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (COCAVID).
Across the world, there have been concerted efforts by the World Health Organisation as well as efforts by top multilateral aimed at containing/ridding the world of the deadly virus. The donations by Ecobank will complement these efforts, especially so in Africa where many governments are struggling to get the health crisis under control.
While commenting on the donations and the Coronavirus pandemic in general, Ecobank Group’s CEO, Ade Adeyemi, said the bank is very mindful of the needs of its customers during this difficult time:
“Covid-19 is a major global threat adversely affecting all countries and our home, Africa, is particularly vulnerable. We believe in the importance of creating awareness in our communities, while also empowering them to protect themselves and their families as we battle the pandemic. We are particularly mindful of the needs of our communities and therefore focused on these to ensure positive impact both in our urban and rural areas.
“We are also paying attention to the effect of the COVID-19 outbreak on our various customers and have taken the decision to alleviate some of the adverse impact by making some bank charges free on our digital channels. We will continue to anticipate situations that may require our support as developments evolve,” The CEO said.