GLOBAL CITIZEN AND THE NIGERIA SOVEREIGN INVESTMENT AUTHORITY (NSIA) ANNOUNCE THE IMMINENT LAUNCH OF THE NIGERIA SOLIDARITY SUPPORT FUD
Abuja Nigeria, May 14th, 2020
Global Citizen and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) announce- the imminent launch of a solidarity fund designed to provide additional support for Nigeria’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fund will enable Nigerian Citizens resident at home or in the diaspora as well as international donors to come together and directly contribute to Nigeria’s fight against the pandemic.
The announcement was organised as a virtual live streamed event hosted by the NSIA
and chaired by His Excellency, the Vice President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria, Profesor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON. Also participating was the Honourable Minister of Finance, Dr. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed.
Representing the NSIA were the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr. Jide Zeitlin and the Managing Director, Mr. Uche Orji. Whilst Global Citizen was represented by the Chairman of Global Citizen Nigeria, Mr. Babatunde Folawiyo and the Vice Chairman Global Citizen Nigeria, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented significant health, social and economic challenges across the world. The Federal Government of Nigeria instituted measures such as increasing access to testing, contact tracing and isolation and implementing social distancing to contain the potentially devastating impact of this deadly virus; however, more support is needed.
Given the unprecedented nature of this global pandemic, both in its impact and severity, it is clear that this is a challenge that the public sector cannot tackle alone. The virus can only be defeated through careful coordination and collaborative efforts of the public sector, private sector, and philanthropists. As the pandemic’s impact is unprecedented; so too is the commitment of Nigerians both at home and abroad who have rallied to help one another and stand in solidarity against this deadly virus.
The Nigeria Solidarity Fund will be incorporated as a non-government charitable foundation. In line with global best practices, it will be professionally managed and transparently governed through a strong Advisor Board comprising eminently qualified men and women to ensure that the funds are effectively used and properly accounted for.
This stakeholder led-and-resourced mechanism will provide tools to augment ongoing efforts to respond to COVID-19 in communities across Nigeria, as well as to strengthen health systems in the aftermath of the acute pandemic response.
“The Government of Nigeria is delighted that the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), together with the world’s leading international advocacy organization, Global Citizen, and their partners, have embarked on a process to set up a new funding vehicle. The Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund (NSSF) will provide support to our most vulnerable communities in the fight against COVID-19”. – said Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo
The NSIA plays a leading role in driving Nigeria’s sustained economic development through the careful implementation of its three core mandates; building a savings base for the Nigerian people, development of infrastructure and providing stabilization in times of economic stress.
“As the SWF of the most populous country on the continent, it is important for the Board of the NSIA to support collaborations of this nature which further strengthens the nation’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The unprecedented challenge posed by the outbreak demands that we embrace flexibility as never before on partnerships with the right organizations to help mobilize support for the fund as well as building sustainable
systems in our communities.” – said Mr. Jide Zeitlin, Board Chairman, NSIA.
The COVID-19 pandemic has strained the nation’s health, social and economic systems, yet our resolve to work together to contain it remains unflinching. Against this background, we are thrilled to partner with Global Citizen in launching the Nigeria
Solidarity Support Fund, as the Fund Manager. – Uche Orji, MD NSIA
NSIA’s long term infrastructure investment strategy entails creating model tertiary healthcare facilities designed and equipped to international standards to reduce the foreign exchange burden of medical tourism and to develop domestic expertise in tertiary healthcare. The collaboration with Global Citizen will help extend the agency’s primary care footprint in healthcare. The Solidarity Support Fund will enable the expansion of primary health care, thereby improving access, building capacity, and enhancing the resilience of Nigeria’s health delivery, especially in rural and underserved communities.
Global Citizen is the world’s largest movement of action takers and impact makers dedicated to ending extreme poverty by 2030. With over 10 million monthly advocates, Global Citizen’s voices have the power to drive lasting change around sustainability, equality, and humanity. The organization’s work with partners, the actions of its global community, along with high-level advocacy efforts, has resulted in commitments and policy announcements from world leaders valued at over US$48 billion (N18,720,000.000,000), affecting the lives of more than 2.25 billion people across the globe by 2030.
“Global Citizen’s ongoing commitment to the African continent and, in particular, Nigeria is motivated by two key factors: The shift in geopolitical power towards emerging markets, and the recognition that developing countries want and need to have agency over their own development, this makes a presence in the sub-Saharan region vital to the long-term success of any initiative seeking to end extreme poverty” – Mr. Michael Sheldrick Chief Policy Officer Global Citizen.
“As we embark upon our work in Nigeria, Global Citizen will mobilize Nigerians, Nigerians in the diaspora, global partners, together with the philanthropic and private sectors in our nation’s fight against COVID-19.” -Tunde Folawiyo, Chairman Global Citizen Nigeria
Nigeria’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic requires individual and collective commitment. Through the Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund, together, and in solidarity, the nation will rebuild towards a more responsive and resilient Nigeria in the aftermath of this disaster.
It will target four core COVID-19 response, mitigation and recovery areas including:
- Supporting the most vulnerable
- Strengthening the domestic healthcare systems
- Expanding access to rural and community focused universal healthcare access.
- Re-skilling and re-tooling for the “New Nigerian Renaissance” post COVID- 19
“Our efforts must ensure that we are able to envision and meet the demands that will emerge in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is imperative as the nation
adjusts to the realities of a changing economy, transitions to a “new normal” and embraces the Nigeria of the future”. – Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Vice -Chairman Global Citizen Nigeria
The COVID- 19 pandemic manifests primarily as a global health challenge. It is clear however that its impact far exceeds the health sector. Mitigation efforts, therefore, must not be limited to the acute health sector needs. To effectively support Nigeria’s response and to emerge from this as a more resilient nation, efforts must take an integrated, systems approach at the center of which is a mandate to support the most vulnerable communities.
Details on how to make contributions will be available on the Fund’s website and via public announcements following the upcoming official Launch.
ENDS
