By Eric Elezuo
The Pest Control Association of Nigeria (PECAN) has honoured the Aliko Dangote Foundation with the Grand Malaria Vector Partner (GMVP) award for being a veritable partner in the crusade to stop the spread of malaria in Nigeria, especially in the rural areas.
The Foundation was conferred with the award during the 30th anniversary ceremony of PECAN held at the Banquet Hall of The Providence by Mantis Hotel, with the theme MALARIA ELIMINATION THROUGH EFFECTIVE VECTOR MANAGEMENT, and supervised by the newly installed President, PCO Kunle Williams.
At the well attended event, which brought together the who is who in pest control business, as well as stakeholders in health management, notable industrialists, government and inter-government agency officials and men and women of goodwill, a public service lecture was delivered as a prelude to keeping malaria as well as other killer pests at bay.
The lecture, titled Effective Vector Management as a Panacea for Malaria Control, by a Public Health Entomologist from the University of Lagos, Prof. Ayo Awolola, proffered tangible solutions to the spread of the malaria vector.
Conferring the award on the recipient, PCO Williams praised the Dangote Foundation for its contributions in the fight against malaria over the years, and urged them to sustain the tempo and keep the flag flying. He maintained that having the Foundation as a partner is one of the best things that has happened to the association in its 30 years of existence.
The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) is the philanthropic arm of the billionaire business man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, with a main objective to reduce the number of lives lost to malnutrition and disease. One of the core programme of the Foundation is combating Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in children, in addition to improving the outcome of children’s lives.
Over the years, the Dangote Foundation has been using its investments in health, education, and economic empowerment to help lift people out of poverty.
Also conferred with GMVP award on the day was the Chairman, Elizade Autoland, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo just as many others including the Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the wife of the Commissioner for Information, Mrs Gbenga Omotoso; Dr. Chioma Amajoh (Mama Malaria), Registrar, Environment Health Registration Council of Nigeria. Dr. Dominic Abonyi, National President, EHOAN, Sanitarian (Dr.) Sam Akingbeyin, Managing Director, Refuse Management Board, Kano, Hon. Abdullahi Gwarzo; MD, Masters Energy Oil and Gas, Bar (Mrs.) Patience Dappa; Chairman, Harvetfield Industries Limited, Prince Martins Awofisayo; Sarkin Fulani of Lagos, Alhaji Mohammed Bambado; Prof Sam Awolola, Immediate Past Peresident, PCO Ayo Ogunyadeeka and Director-General, Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Mr. Timothy Osulale Olawale were conferred with Malaria Vector Partner (MVP) awards.
