In furtherance of its social mission, leading microfinance institution Grooming Centre, recently donated the sums of fifteen million naira to the private sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), and five million naira to the Lagos State Government, to help in the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria.
With these donations, the Lagos State government and the CBN led private sector coalition will be further empowered to continue providing technical and operational support that includes awareness campaigns on the pandemic, and setting up medical facilities such as isolation and treatment centers, Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and molecular testing labs in the six geopolitical zones of the country.
This is not the first time Grooming Centre will be stepping up to support during challenges. Since its incorporation in 2006, the IFC-partnered institution has dedicated itself to mobilizing resources and offering first-exposure financial services to the entrepreneurial poor, while also pursuing a CSR strategy aimed at addressing emergency disaster relief, emergency rehabilitation, and community welfare. Their support of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) remains of significant impact in their record of humanitarian activities.
Speaking about their COVID-19 response, which was aided by foremost donations facilitators Avale Africa, Grooming Centre’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Godwin Nwabunka said: “Our values have always been people and community-focused. These contributions, in addition to other internal measures we have taken as an organization to prioritize the health and safety of our customers and staff, represent our solidarity with our private sector peers, the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government to limit the impact of the pandemic. Those in the informal economy and at the bottom of the pyramid form an integral part of our customer base, so our CSR strategy typically covers Education, Health, and Community relief, which also align with the government’s scope of intervention in these times. We committed to empowering people and securing the wellbeing of the public, and will continue to explore further collaborations to help mitigate the severity of the pandemic.”
According to the Head of Programmes & Partnerships at Avale Africa, Chioma Ezenwanne, approaching Grooming Centre as one of Avale’s most reliable partners was considered a priority, and Grooming’s positive response in supporting CACOVID and LASG has only reinforced its pedigree as an ethics-conscious, socially responsible organization.
A review of data by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) showed increasing figures in nationwide coronavirus cases. With over 2,000 new cases recorded across the country in the past week, the worst isn’t over in Nigeria, thus highlighting the need for sustained intervention and contributions to organized mitigation efforts of government, especially by corporates.
Twitter: @Grooming_Centre
Facebook: Grooming Centreng (https://www.facebook.com/groomingcentreng/)
IG: @grooming_centreng
