Airtel raises Le 400 Million to fight Ebola
Leading GSM operator, Airtel, has raised Le 400 million to fight against the deadly Ebola virus in the country.
The money was raised by the company past Friday during a fabulous dinner held at the prestigious Radison Blu Hotel, Aberdeen, Freetown.
The auspicious occasion organized to celebrate the Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) Season Four was graced by several dignitaries including the Vice President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Alhaji Chief Sam Sumana, football, health and other stakeholders.
In his remarks, Managing Director of Airtel, Sudipto Chowdhury, said it was a pride to host such a gathering as the third largest mobile phone company in the world whose vision is to become the most loved brand by 2015, touching millions of lives.
He disclosed that they have over 300 million subscribers globally, having transformed mobile phone from being an ordinary communication device to a social and economic enhancer in the lives of people.
He added that about 100,000 people are now using the Airtel Money transfer more than bank-registered account users for the purpose of sending or receiving money.
The MD noted that football in the country and the continent at large has somewhat become a culture and inspiration to people and that the ARS is nowadays the largest Pan African football tournament taking place.
This year, according to him, the tournament was taken to all 149 chiefdoms of the country, initially involving 1,000 teams which gradually reduced to 150 playing in the nationals in line with the vision of President Koroma to support youth development.
He furthered that at the end of the tournament 20 players will be selected to join the Mohamed Kallon Football Academy where they would be provided with lodging, feeding and education.
He concluded by touching on the pillars of this year’s tournament of massification, celebration, sustenance and inclusion.
In his keynote address, Vice President Sam Sumana expressed delight at being part of the splendid event which he said could not have come at a better time as everybody is watching the World Cup in Brazil.
He noted that the transformation of Airtel today shows the company’s ability to honour its corporate social responsibility – making steadfast progress in that direction more especially at a time when the country is experiencing the dreadful Ebola outbreak.
Vice President Sumana lamented that all of them had defied the time to go and celebrate the success of the ARS when other citizens in the far east of the country are perishing due to the Ebola outbreak, stressing the need for collective effort in eradicating the scourge.
He congratulated the staff of Airtel for sacrificing their monthly salaries to the tune of Le 70 million to donate to the fight against the epidemic, adding that Airtel is not only supporting the development of youth football but also the plight of residents of Kailahun and Kenema.
The second gentleman of the republic maintained that sport has no boundary and urged all to be united for the advancement of the game so as to produce more Mohamed Kallons to ensure that his legacy is preserved.
He described the lead taken by Airtel as a challenge to other corporate institutions and asked them to emulate the shining example, saying there is a beginning to everything.
Minister of Sports, Paul Kamara, on his part noted that those who have been groomed by Airtel are potential players for the national team. He said that with the creation of his ministry, the country has been rated as the fastest movers in the world by FIFA being 9th in Africa and 54th globally.
He praised the president of the Sierra Leone Football Association (SLFA), Isha Johansen, for at the moment being the only woman leading a football association in the world, adding that the presence of the Vice President has added value to what Airtel intends achieving.
In her remarks, Minister of Health and Sanitation, Miatta Kargbo, thanked Airtel for the kind gesture (Le 70 Million) towards the fight against Ebola, saying this is not the first time the company has come to their aid.
She also thanked others who donated to round up the amount to Le 400 million, emphasizing that such government-private partnership will go a long way towards containing the spread of the disease.
She said that the virus is taking its toll on Sierra Leoneans on a daily basis and called for collective responsibility in combating it. She promised that the donation like any other would be used for its intended purpose.
Among the contributors to the fund are
- Staff of Airtel Sierra Leone – Le 70 million;
- NATCOM Le – 10 million;
- CEO of Bharti Airtel – Le 100 million;
- 50/50 Group – Le 500,000;
- Bill – Le 60 million;
- Balani – Le 50 million;
- Lime Line – 20 million;
- Ministry of Tourism – Le 5 million;
- Parliament – Le 10 million;
- Isha Johansen and husband – $USD 1,000;
- SLFA – Le 500,000;
- Northern Solutions George Twumasi $USD 1,000;
- and others.
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