Where to Find National Lottery Trust Fund Good Causes Projects
Dr. Bello Maigari
Nseobong Okon-Ekong writes that some health institutions across the six geo-political zones recently benefited from interventions initiated and funded through proceeds raised from lottery and the gaming sector
At the recent official commissioning of vital medical equipment funded by the National Lottery Trust Fund, the agency was able to communicate to key stakeholders, the general public and consumers of responsible lottery products how good causes are served in the most innovative way by helping to promote socially inclusive interventions.
Speaking at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, the Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund, Dr. Bello Maigari, said the event marked yet another significant milestone in the history of the national lottery in Nigeria while celebrating beneficiaries of these vital facilities that have been carefully selected through a comprehensive needs assessment survey and consultations with stakeholders.
These projects were initiated and funded through lottery and gaming sector proceeds. They are domiciled in different medical centres spread across the six geo-political zones in the country. In the South-East, we have Omaku Community Hospital, Abia and General Hospital Umuezeoka, Ezea North, Ebonyi.
The North-Central has four health institutions, including General Hospital, Gboko, Benue, Primary Health Centre, Ikoyi-Ijumu, Kogi, St. John’s Hospital, Gboko, Benue and Cottage Hospital, Iyah Gbede, Kogi. Only one health facility made the list in the South-West: Ijebu Jesa General Hospital, Osun.
In the South-South, we have two health institutions: Amadi-Ama Community Health Centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers and General Hospital, Oto-Odu, Delta. The North-East has Kumo General Hospital, Gombe, General Hospital Garkida-Gombi, Adamawa, General Hospital, Hong, Adamawa and General Hospital Dukku, Gombe. Completing the list with one health institution is General Hospital, Gwandu, Kebbi State in the North-West.
Worthy of note is the State House Clinic, which received a brand new, well-equipped ambulance from the agency dedicated to use in the presidential fleet.
According to Maigari, this equipment includes digital X-ray machines, colour ultrasound machines, suction machines, kidney dialysis machines, hydraulic beds, wheelchairs, blood banks, ultra-modern mortuary and other high-tech facilities. The NLTF executive secretary reiterated that the approach aligned with its vision of promoting socially inclusive projects among all Nigerians in a balanced, transparent and cost-effective way.
“It is our hope that Nigerians will continue to benefit from investments in these high-quality medical facilities going forward,” he stated. “This groundbreaking event is one of many of its kind since the beginning of our programme intervention in health in the last few years. Our plan is to cover the entire 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital working to improve access to quality healthcare services and providing a platform that promotes the highest standard of care to our rural people.”
It is instructive to note that these medical facilities were only a part of a large consignment already delivered to a number of healthcare centres across the country.
At the event, the Minister for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Hon. Zephaniah Jisalo, called on operators to cooperate with government agencies in the gaming industry to further raise awareness of the value of lottery funding to modern life and its transformational legacy to the nation, leveraging the evidence base of the National Lottery Trust Fund intervention programmes.
The National Lottery Trust Fund exercises its statutory mandate under the National Lottery Act 2005. For every game or lottery played, the Trust Fund receives 20% of the value of the ticket as returns to good causes to support the implementation of lottery good cause projects across the country.
