Nigeria’s minister of finance, Budget, and national planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, has teamed up with Access Bank Plc. This collaboration aims to support the Global Citizen in the movement to end poverty, Covid-19, and climate change after the international advocacy organization announced the local hosts for its upcoming concert in Lagos.
The Global Citizen, a New York-based global not-for-profit body, stated that the wealthiest countries have to fulfill their promise to deliver 100 billion dollars yearly to tackle the climate change needs of developing countries. As such, it has called on the G7 and the world’s billionaires to end the hunger crisis by contributing at least $6bn for the urgent provision of millions of meals for the 41 million people on the brink of starvation.
The organization also revealed that it is working with the Lagos State Government to create a limited-capacity event in the celebration of the Nigerians working at the forefront in combating the Covid-19 pandemic.
Leading personalities such as Big Brother Naija’s Ebuka Obi-Uchendu and Nancy Isime are the local hosts for the live event which is fixed for September 25, 2021. Other performing artists will include Tiwa Savage, Davido, Femi Kuti, and Made Kuti, among others. Burna Boy will perform from New York, Sho Madjozi and Muzi from Johannesburg, while Angelique Kidjo will perform in Paris.
According to the finance minister, “Women continue to bear a disproportionate burden of the Covid-19 pandemic, on the frontlines, in various sectors, and in their homes. Every woman and girl should be guaranteed safety in their respective homes, schools, communities, and place of work”.
She further went on to say “ this is a shared responsibility and through Global Citizen Live, we are calling on the key stakeholders across private and public sectors to join hands-on accelerating our common goal of ensuring that women are safe and economically empowered”.
“ Access Bank strongly aligns with the Global Citizen’s goals and objectives, possessing a strong drive to ending Covid-19, addressing the global food crisis, achieving education for all, advancing equity, and protecting the environment,” said Herbert Wigwe, the Group Managing Director of Access Bank Plc.
Expressing his support for Global Citizen Live, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said, “Lagos State is thrilled to be a part of Global Citizen Live. With the challenges of climate change rising poverty, hunger, and vaccine inequity facing Africa, we need businesses and governments around the world to respond to the call of citizens, stand in solidarity with the people of Africa, and commit to defending the planet and defeating poverty and inequality.”
