TheCable

Olam Group, one of the country’s largest food and agri-business companies, has contributed N1 billion in cash and kind to support the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria.

This is made up of N600 million cash to the private sector-led Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), N300 million worth of foodstuffs to states across the country and N100 million medical supplies to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Nigeria Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) and the Lagos state government.

This donation, according to Olam, through its group companies, “is an expression of its commitment to contributing to the national efforts to cushion the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic through support of health facilities and medical equipment particularly in the area of testing, isolation and treatment, as well as the provision of food supplies”.

Country head of Olam Group Nigeria, Mukul Mathur, said, while announcing this donation: “We believe as a major private sector agro and manufacturing player in Nigeria for the last 31 years, we need to educate and create awareness among the indigent and vulnerable in our society by complementing government efforts. Our donation of cash and food relief will support the collaborative response to combat COVID-19 which has altered our health, well-being and food security.”

The cash donation to CACOVID builds on support already provided to states across the country with food supplies ranging from Mama’s Pride Rice, Crown Pasta, Tasty Tom Noodles, eggs to OK Biscuits, among others.

Olam has also donated medical kits such as masks, medical overalls, infrared thermometers and protective googles to frontline medical staff at the NCDC, NIMR and the Lagos state government.

The company is supporting campaigns in local languages to raise awareness about the pandemic via radio jingles and other media.