UNILAG receives borehole donation from Chinese consulate

Photo: Punch

The Chinese Consulate in Lagos has donated modern borehole to the University of Lagos in an effort to combat the challenge of inadequate supply of potable water in the University.

Naija News gathered that the Consul General of China in Lagos, His Excellency, Mr. Chao Xiaoliang, said the project was executed under the framework of ‘China-Africa People-to-People Friendship Action.’

According to Punch, he said the project, which is located within the Faculty of Education, was meant to ensure water supply on campus, thus, making the university environment more conducive for teaching and learning.

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Xiaoliang said further that the ‘China-Africa People-to-People Friendship Action’ was aimed at fostering better relations between Chinese companies and their host countries.
He noted that the donation was in furtherance of the consulate’s corporate social responsibility initiative in Nigeria and advised consulates of other countries to pay attention to public needs in Nigeria.

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He said, “CGC began operation in Nigeria in 1983, 34 years old. Ever since then, we rapidly grew into business, including consultancy, investment, infrastructure, logistics and trading with its footprint across the world.

“We pay a lot of attention to public activities as our CSR in Nigeria, such as yearly donation of materials and food, combating flood and disaster, and supporting development of communities in several states in Nigeria.
“We decided to donate this borehole as soon as we realised that there was lack of potable water on the campus of UNILAG.

“Now, we fulfill this CSR by completing this project with good quality. We hope it will be an effective way to abate the shortage of potable water here.”
Xiaoliang assured that the consulate would continue to identify with the development of the university.

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“We hope to learn from your successful experience and strengthen cooperation with you, and also take part in the development of this university together with you, because we believe that friendship and cooperation will foster development,” he added.

Punch reports that the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Rahamon Bello, appreciated the consulate for selecting the institution to benefit from its CSR programme, assuring that the university would make good use of the facility.
He, however, stressed that the infrastructural needs of the university were largely unmet.

“We need others to come and aid our infrastructural need; government cannot do it alone,” he added.

During the commissioning of the project, there was a presentation of the ‘China-Africa People-to-People Friendship Action’ plaque to the VC.