ExxonMobil has committed more than $170 million in the fight to contain malaria in the last 20 years, NewsSpecng learnt.
The grant according to Adedoyin Adelabu impacted no fewer than 125 million people throughout Africa and Asia.
Adelabu spoke in Aybuja yesterday at the grand finale of the 2022 “Power Forward Project” a Programme put together for youth by Exxon Mobil, NBA Africa and PanAfricare.
She said ExxonMobil gave out over 15 million bed nets, 5.6 million doses of antimalarial drugs and more than four million rapid-diagnostic kits.
The event was closed with a basketball final between Raberto Schools, Wuse II and Government Secondary School, Karu for the girls category while for the boys it was between Government Secondary School, Karu and Government Secondary School Garki.
Beside the basketball finals, a free malaria test was also carried out.
She said, “Between 2000 and 2020, ExxonMobil committed more than $170 million in grants to the malaria cause, reaching more than 125 million people throughout Africa and Asia with over 15 million bed nets, 5.6 million doses of antimalarial drugs and more than four million rapid-diagnostic kits.”
On the impact of the Power Forward programme, which is a life coaching for the youth to discover the path to greatness, Adelabu said it has impacted over 200,000 youth, raised 156, 611 beneficiaries from 40 schools and 12 communities in Abuja.
She added, “To date, the program has cumulatively reached more than 200,000 youth in school and vulnerable communities with life skills information, provided more than 12,600 people with malaria prevention strategies and treatment, and established 134 handwashing stations. More than 14,107 students have been engaged in air pollution awareness campaigns with more than 2,000 female students from the 30 schools engaged in a Menstrual Hygiene Management Awareness Program.”
Gbemisola Abudu, Head NBA, Nigeria and Cedric Ceballos, 1995 NBA All-Star and 1992 NBA Slam Dunk Champion, said that Power Forward is not about basketball but also teaching and empowrring the youth with the focus and skill that will enable them to make it in life irrespective of the part they choose to follow.
