Firm receives commendation for donating 1,000 oxygen cylinders to LUTH during pandemic

*African Foundries Limited assures it is willing to collaborate with individuals and groups to offer more to humanity through our products and services in Nigeria

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

For the company’s humane disposition to the tertiary health institution, persons infected with COVID-19 and Nigerians at large in the heat of the pandemic, the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has applauded African Foundries Limited (AFL), having received a donation of 1,000 oxygen cylinders from the company.

It was learnt AFL is a subsidiary of African Industries Group, which is a major manufacturer of steel rebar, iron rods in Nigeria.

Prof. Chris Bode, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of LUTH, leading the Management of the hospital, made this appreciation at AFL’s production site at Ogidi, in Lagos, during a courtesy visit recently.

The LUTH CMD said that AFL had shown altruism and humane disposition by its rescue mission to the health institution, persons affected by COVID-19, and Nigerians at large during the pandemic, reports The Sun.

Prof. Bode stated: “We shall be ingrate if we don’t come to show appreciation having received about 1,000 cylinders.

“The need for cylinders and oxygen was dire and receiving oxygen from African Foundries was like a manner from above. AFL has shown brotherhood by coming in when we were in dearth of oxygen.

“Recall that the need for oxygen and other facilities was higher than any other part of the country even till date.

“We hope other well-meaning Nigerians would be their brothers’ keeper like AFL has shown.”

Bode implored all and sundry to work harmoniously towards boosting the health of the nation as no country would do anything without a guaranteed health.

“Every human activity is dependent on good health. So, both the government and the governed, people in both the Public and private sectors and individuals alike should contribute their quotas towards improving our health sector.

“AFL has done something, it’s expected that we all follow suit in any capacity we can, hence everything we do on earth is a function of sound health,” said the CMD.

Uche Iwuamadi, Group Executive Director (GMD) of AFL, who spoke on behalf of the company’s Group Managing Director, Mr. Alok Gupta, said the gesture was part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility, pointing that no time would have been more apt to show love to mankind than the pandemic period.

Iwuamadi disclosed the company neither produces oxygen nor any medical facility per se, but its oxygen was for basically for making its steel and other products.

However, out of exigency and in the spirit of brotherhood for fellow Nigerians, the company decided to convert them into oxygen for human use.

“Production of medical Oxygen is not our core business, but when COVID-19 struck, we came together and decided on how we could help ameliorate the health emergency, so we chose to give them out to so many hospitals in the country,” he stated.

The firm’s Group Executive Director said that AFL was ready to partner with any group for nation building in any capacity.

The Chairman of African Industries Group, Mr. Raj Gupta, is a founding member of Coalition Against Covid (CA-COVID), and the oxygen donated all over country was part of CA-COVID.

Iwuamadi added: “We couldn’t give oxygen to steel while people were dying. So, to us, life is more important than anything in this world. We are happy so many lives were saved by our gesture.

“Nevertheless, we are willing to collaborate with individuals and groups to offer more to humanity through our products and services,” he affirmed.