By Pwanagba Agabus, Jos
In its efforts to help curtail the scourge of the coronavirus pandemic that has continued to ravage many countries of the world, Nigeria inclusive, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the University of Jos branch on Wednesday donated hand sanitisers and leaflets to Plateau Government, NUJ, JNI, CAN and other organisations in the state.
The Union also said that the gesture is part of its Cooperate Social Responsibility (CRS).
ASUU added that, its donation of the aforementioned was aimed at supporting government’s efforts in curbing the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Lazarus Maigoro, who is the chairperson of the branch made the disclosure while presenting the items to the state government and other beneficiaries at the Secretariat of the Union in Jos, the state capital.
Maigoro explained that the product was funded by the Union, adding that they were produced by it members in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University.
He said, “Aside the struggle for the welfare of our members, we also embark on cooperate social responsibility.
“We have discovered that our country and indeed the whole world is going through though times as a result of Coronavirus.
“So, as a union, we have decided to produce these hand sanitisers and leaflets, using our members from the faculty of pharmaceutical Sciences to support government in its bid to curb the spread of the virus in the state.
“We believe that with this little support, a product of research by our members, the fight against the dreaded disease will soon be a thing of the past,” he said
Maigoro who called for collaboration between ASUU and government in addressing challenges bedeviling the country, also called for prompt and adequate funding of Universities in Nigeria.
He assured that ASUU would continue to support government’s initiatives that would promote research and development of education in the country.
Secretary to the Government of the State (SGS), Prof. Danladi Atu, while receiving the items on behalf of the state government, commended the Union for keying into the vision of government in curbing the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
Atu decribed the initiative as laudable, adding that the fight against the dreaded disease must be a collective one
“Fighting Coronavirus needs collective efforts; we must join hands together to end it.
“It is a trying moment for the whole world and I thank ASUU for keying into our vision as a state curb the spread of the pandemic.
“So, this initiative by ASUU is laudable and commendable,” he said.
Atu assured that government would continue to collaborate with critical stakeholders in whatever way to end the spread of the disease.
He, however, charged ASUU members to conduct in-depth research and come out with lasting solution to the pandemic.
“I want to challenge ASUU members, who are mostly researchers to come up with proper and lasting solution to end this dreaded disease,” Atu urged.
Organisations that benefited from the Union’s gesture include, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Plateau Council, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Ja’amatu Nasil Islam (JNI), among others.
