Onitsha community has received one hundred and fifty bags of ten kilogrammes of Rice and twelve thousand cans of Grand Malt drinks from the International Breweries PLC, a subsidiary of ABINBEV Family.

The items were presented by the Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Manager of the Brewery, Mr. Chuma Umunna and received by the Traditional Ruler of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe in company of his cabinet members at Ime-Obi, Awka road, Onitsha.

In his address, Mr. Umunna described the donation as part of the Brewery’s community effort to combat the effects of COVID-19 pandemic unveiling that the gesture has been replicated across communities of the state and beyond to help in the fight against the virus.

Mr. Umunna maintained that the gesture was to thank Onitsha, their host community for its support and expressed hope that the items will go a long way in cushioning the effects of the lockdown on people and promised more of such gesture.

Receiving the items, on behalf of Igwe Achebe, the Akpeolodi of Onitsha, Chief Chilo Asika appreciated the International Breweries for the gesture, saying that COVID-19 pandemic is not limited to one community but cuts across all parts of the country and assured judicious distribution of the items.

In their separate reactions, the President General, Onitsha Progressive Union, Sir Chukwunwike Ekweogu and the Transition Committee Chairman, Onitsha North Local Government Area, Honorable Patrick Agha-Mba, applauded the Brewery for the donation, which according to them has been in their nature of giving back to the society, making reference to series of societal developmental strides the Brewery had engaged in the past.

On her part, the leader, Field Operations Onitsha COVID-19 Response Team, Mrs. Rita Okolonji, while thanking the Brewery for the donation promised equitable distribution and emphasized that all unemployed adults, the sick, indigent widows, physically challenged persons among others are eligible to receive the items.