Commendation
Princess Gloria Akobundu, National Coordinator/Chief Executive Officer, African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development/African Peer Review Mechanism (AUDA-NEPAD/APRM) Nigeria has commended Harmony Foam Plc, for supporting the Federal Government in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
Akobundu, who is also a Member, AU-APRM Taskforce Committee on Governance Response to COVID-19 and other pandemics in Africa, gave the commendation in Abuja while receiving the donation of100 mattresses presented by Chief Henry Ikoh, Managing Director, Chief Executive Officer of the Company.
According to Akobundu, AUDA-NEPAD/APRM is a veritable vehicle for strategic Public Private partnership (PPP) capable of enhancing economic growth, self-sufficiency and reducing unemployment.
“AUDA-NEPAD is not just for poverty alleviation but for creating means of taking the poor people out of poverty.
“This (the donation) is an example; where you get the technical people to harmonise skills for economic growth and job creation.
“If we use a platform like AUDA-NEPAD to harness the talents we have in Nigeria, it is enough to produce and export.
“We are proud of Harmony foam (Limited) because they’ve led by example.
“We encourage PPP, we’ve been advocating for that; all we need is the technical know-how.
“Of course, we can partner with foreigners on the technical aspect of it under the TTT, (Train the Trainers and then Takeover) scheme.
“This is part of what AUDA-NEPAD/APRM Nigeria is advocating for- technical skills development, PPP, cottage industries- as a way of industrialisation and economic growth of our dear country.
“In the time of this COVID-19, who will have come to help Nigeria? Every country is minding their own business at this point; it is what you have that you leverage on. We have our own people.
“Most of the masks in the market are produced locally, ventilators are now being produced (locally); meaning, this has really made us to think outside the box and we need to sustain it.”
She commended the company for the donation which would be handed over to the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19.
“There is a national taskforce that is chaired by the secretary to the government of the federation, (Mr Boss Mustapha).
“We will make sure it gets to them immediately; all hands must be on deck to take Nigeria out of this menace,” Akobundu said.
Earlier in his address, Harmony Foam’s boss reiterated the need for all Nigerians to support the federal government to contain the pandemic.
“I am giving the Federal Government this donation because of COVID-19 pandemic that has been terrorising the whole world.
“This is our little token to support the federal government for onward distribution to the sick people; basically, for the hospitals.
“It is not only for the FG to fight the pandemic, Federal Government cannot fight this war alone; all Nigerians should join hands to support government in fighting the pandemic to a logical conclusion,” Ikoh said.
