The family of a former President of Nigeria, the late Umaru Musa Yar’adua, has donated food and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The donation which was made through the family’s charity organisation, Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation (WYEF), included 1,000 pieces of face masks, 13,000 pieces of surgical masks, 1,800 bars of soap, 23,100 sachets of detergents, 100 cartons of macaroni, 100 bags of semolina and 100 bags of rice.
The family’s representative, Malam Abdullahi Umaru Yar’adua, while presenting the items to the FCTA, lauded the sacrifices of all health workers on the frontlines of containing the pandemic.
Malam Yar’Adua said, “My family’s, NGO, WYEF, and I extend our deepest respect and gratitude to the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Presidential Task Force on Control of COVID-19, FCT Ministerial Expert Advisory Committee on COVID-19, NCDC) and to all those working in the healthcare profession for their selfless commitment and diligence as they undertake important roles in our country’s fight against the ongoing pandemic.
“In difficult times, we often discover the best in ourselves: the dedication to service by doctors, nurses, lab technicians and other health workers, in these challenging times is an example to us all.”
While receiving the items, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, commended the Yar’adua family for the kind gesture, stressing that the move would be exemplary to other notable families in the country. Dr. Aliyu said, “We are happy to receive our former first family, eminently represented by three eminent sons. This donation will no doubt go a long way to cushion the effects of COVID-19 on the residents of the territory, and by extension, all Nigerians.”