AIICO Insurance Plc says it has commenced daily feeding of over 130 underprivileged persons in some communities in Lagos State to cushion the effect of the Coronavirus lockdown.
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A statement by Segun Olalandu, AIICO’s Head, Strategic Marketing and Communications on Thursday in Lagos, said that the gesture was part of the firm’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) intervention.
Olalandu explained that the action was to complement government efforts aimed at ensuring people have access to food supply while movements were restricted to contain the spread of the COVID-19.
“The company has made provisions to feed over 130 people daily for 14 days and these include women, children and young adults.
“It has collaborated with DreamsFromTheSlum (an NGO with a commitment to humanitarian causes) and Chicken Republic for logistics and implementation,’’ he said.
Mr Abimbola Shobanjo, AIICO’s Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Manager, said that the targeted beneficiaries were those who could not pursue their day-to-day livelihood as a result of the restriction of movement.
“These are mostly petty traders and artisans in impoverished communities who now find it extremely difficult to provide for their families and dependants.
“We aim to provide daily meals to support them during this challenging period,” he said.
According to him, the company believes that it is one of the ways to encourage them to stay at home and to maintain social distancing to avoid the spread of the virus.
“Thus the food is delivered to them at their various homes.’’
Shobanjo noted that the distribution of the food was being done under safe and appropriate hygiene conditions to protect both the officials and the beneficiaries.
Also speaking, Mr Babatunde Fajemirokun, Managing Director of the firm, stated that the company was prioritising the needs of the vulnerable and less privileged in these extraordinary times.
According to Fajemirokun, this is in line with the commitment to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal on ‘Zero Hunger’.
“We will continue to pursue causes and drive initiatives to ameliorate the impact of the lockdown through this season and beyond,’’ he said.