COVID-19 Fund targets $50m to support economic recovery

 COVID-19 Fund targets $50m to support economic recovery

The Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF), a platform established primarily to supplement efforts to mitigate the adverse economic effects of the COVID-19 is seeking $50 million to implement its programmes.

NSSF is a non-profit organisation created as a partnership between the international advocacy organisation, Global Citizen and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

NSSF is renewing calls for support and financial donations to the fund to implement its programmes which include supporting vulnerable members of the population, strengthening the country’s healthcare system and reskilling the Nigerian workforce for a post-pandemic world.

The strategic priority for NSSF for 2021-2022 is to “ensure that one million Nigerians are vaccinated against Covid-19.”

The Fund is calling on philanthropists, corporate organizations, Nigerians at home and in the diaspora, public sector institutions and international donor agencies to join hands and support this initiative which has been created by Nigerians for the benefit of Nigerians.

Chairman, Global Citizen Nigeria, Babatunde Folawiyo said with the appointment of Dr. Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko as General Manager of the fund, all the necessary governance structures are now in place and the work of the fund has begun in earnest, with the immediate priority being to support the national COVID-19 vaccination programme.

“The NSSF is now well established and with $2.4 million raised thus far, we need to build on this and grow the fund towards its goal of $50 million. The funds will be channeled towards acquiring vaccines and ensuring that Nigerians are well informed about the need for the vaccination,” Folawiyo said.

According to him, working with carefully selected partners, NSSF’s goal is to ensure equitable distribution and application of the vaccinations as well as adequate education and awareness about the benefits of getting vaccinated.

Chinye-Nwoko said the fund was ready to serve the people of Nigeria.

“We strongly believe the pandemic is above all a health crisis and ending this health crisis will result in a durable end of the economic crisis. We look forward to the support of the Nigerian people, as together we can help each other for the good of the whole country,” Chinye-Nwoko said.