Gbenro Adesina
University of Ibadan (UI) on Tuesday April 28, 2020 flagged off the distribution of face mask for Abadina and Agbowo communities, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.
The distribution of the items was preceded by a ten minute flag off ceremony before the team proceeded to the communities.
Speaking at the flag off of the distribution of the masks, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships (RISP), Prof. Olanike K. Adeyemo said, “As a CSR, the University of Ibadan gave out Facemasks to communities within and around our institution. Mobile applications were developed for monitoring of the exercise for follow up tracking since beneficiaries are expected to be role models in their communities and the app captures their information which makes subsequent communication, evaluation and research possible”.
Adeyemo said the university was aware of the huge number of people for whom buying a good face mask might be a difficult financial burden adding, “These were the targeted beneficiaries of the UI donation”.
Prof Adeyemo implored members of the University of Ibadan community to observe all the necessary rules for stemming the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As Nigerians we joke with everything, and maybe that is part of our coping strategies but please, COVID-19 is not a matter for jokes. We must observe social distancing, handwashing, hand sanitising and use of masks. We are a praying nation, and I have no doubts that praying is working for us. That is why our fatality and infection rates are much lower than what obtain elsewhere. However, we must add obedience and precaution to our prayers”, she said.
In her speech, Professor Victoria Adetunji, the chair of the UI Covid-19 Response Committee, said preference in the distribution of the masks will be given to low-income people.
She said producing and distributing the masks was one of the many things the Covid-19 Response Committee was doing. Other activities included high-level research into drugs and other products for treating Covid-19 data management, community-level research and information dissemination and education.
