StarTimes Nigeria, a subsidiary of Startimes Media, a Chinese-based company which offers Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Network Services in Nigeria, as contribution towards the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, recently donated 6,000 facemasks to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

This was done as part of her corporate social responsibility (CSR) to Nigeria, one of her biggest markets. The donation was received at Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, in Abuja by the Honourable Minister Mrs. Zainab Ahmed.

Mrs. Ahmed thanked Startimes for its kindly and friendly gesture. According to the Minister, “Startimes has proven over time that it is a reliable partner”. She said Nigeria has enjoyed the company’s relationship and it has shown the advantage of a public private partnership (PPP).

Responding, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Startimes Nigeria, Mr. David Zhang, reiterated the partnership between the two countries and promised to continue to lend a hand of support to Nigeria wherever possible. Mr Zhang disclosed that the they are adding an educational channel on their platform to help students continue learning in this period of Covid-19 pandemic.

The company has been operating in Nigeria for about one and a half decade and has been one of the most affordable service providers in the sector.

This gesture will go a long way in making masks available for people who cannot afford them. Prices of masks have unbelievably steeped due to the high demand and in most cases they are not in supply. This has forced many people to improvise. The most of the improvised masks, especially the ones made with local ankara articles, the Ministry of Health had warned, are not in the least reliable to prevent the virus.