Sanwo-Olu Releases Names of Lagos COVID-19 Response Donors

In line with his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability in governance, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday released the names of individuals and corporate organizations that donated to the State Government towards the fight against the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The donations, which are in cash and materials such as hospital items, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), Ambulances, respirators, isolation facilities and food items to support the vulnerable and the needy during the period of lockdown were acknowledged by the Governor in a widely circulated advertisement published in some major national newspapers.

Recall that Governor Sanwo-Olu said during his last televised update on covid-19 that the Government would release the names of all the donors so that Lagosians would know who they are and what they have done to support the fight against the virus.

He also said that it would not be out of place for government to name the public spirited individuals and corporate bodies for recognition and appreciation for their show of love and magnanimity.

The Governor said: ‘‘let me specially thank everyone who has donated to the Lagos State Covid-19 response, by way of cash, medical equipment and other essential materials. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

” From Friday, May 1st, the Lagos State Government will be acknowledging all of you, our worthy partners, in newspaper advertisements that will outline all that we have received, in the spirit of full transparency and accountability.’’

There are a total of two hundred and one donors as advertised in the newspapers.

In a related development, the Chairman, Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board, LASUBEB, Mr. Wahab Alawiye-King has challenged parents to maximize the opportunity of the present Statewide closure of schools to bond with their children, monitor them closely and discover inherent abilities that would benefit the youths and the society at large.

Alawiye-King, who gave the advice during an interview session on Radio, opined that rather than allow this lockdown to waste away, parents should positively impact the lives of their wards during this period.

He maintained that as much as the government is making efforts to ensure that learning continues in spite of the lockdown, major responsibilities still rest on parents to make the government’s initiatives achieve the desired outcome.

The LASUBEB Chairman said, “The decision to keep the schools shut in spite of the gradual easing of the lockdown order was in the best interest of the children who may be disproportionately affected by measures that were taken to prevent the outbreak”.

“We believe that it is when we are alive that we can learn, and being a responsible government that prioritises the health and life of its citizens, it became expedient for us to close our schools, in order to protect and ensure learning that continues without necessarily compromising the health of the pupils or exposing them to danger”, Alawiye-King reiterated.

Speaking on the fate of pupils who couldn’t finish their second term examinations before the closure of schools, the Chairman said “exams could be done at any time, the present situation we find ourselves wasn’t planned for. It is a national and global disaster that no one has control over”.

He assured Lagosians that as soon as there is a decline in the spread of the pandemic and a pronouncement is made by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, schools will be reopened and academic activities would resume in an orderly manner.

On the measures put in place to ensure that learning continues in spite of the lockdown, Alawiye-King informed that the Lagos SUBEB decided to expand the scope of its already existing interactive radio programmes to meet the specific demands of the present situation.

He disclosed that plans are being perfected to make the radio programme ‘Live’ in order to encourage teachers, parents and pupils interact with one another.