The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control NCDC, and Dettol Nigeria have distanced themselves from Nollywood actress, Funke Akindele for violating the social distancing order.
While some news channel/medium reported that NCDC severed ties with Funke Akindele as their brand Ambassador on Sunday afternoon after the viral video, the agency has denied the report, as it released a statement distancing itself from the actress, saying they never engaged her or anyone as brand Ambassador. But Dettol Nigeria where she is well known to be their brand Ambassador, would also not say if they have severed ties with the actress, as they only pointed out that the actions by the actress does not represent them as a brand and that the actress did what she did on her own capacity as an individual and not with the brand.
“As an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, NCDC has not engaged brand ambassadors as part of our response to #COVID19.
We continue to emphasise that all Nigerians maintain social distancing to prevent the spread of #COVID19 #StayHomeStaySafe,” the NCDC had twitted on their official Twitter handle on Sunday 5th April 2020.
Dettol Nigeria which was reported to have taken down Funke Akindele’s advert which run on their website, which later turned out to be false, also corroborated the statement from NCDC, saying:
“The NCDC partnered with Dettol on a public service message to educate our communities about preventive measures against COVID-19. Funke is not a brand ambassador of the NCDC,” Dettol states.
Adding further, and reproaching the actress who is their brand Ambassador, Dettol Nigeria added by saying:
“As a responsible organization and brand Dettol does not condone any breach of the guidelines on Covid-19. As an organization we are concerned at the turn of events. We will continue to support NCDC and the Nigerian govt to fight COVID-19
We have been made aware through social media that Funke Akindele recently, acting in her personal capacity, had a celebration which is against the caution to the public on social distancing during the covid-19 pandemic,” they added.
The Jenifa’s Diary producer was dragged for hosting a birthday party for her husband inside a crowded room with friends and family members, which clearly is a violating of directives given by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) inorder to slow down the spread of the coronavirus in the country.
Funke Akindele who coincidentally, is said to be an Ambassador to NCDC and one of those that has been preaching against social gathering, and urging for social distancing during this period, was caught on tape violating what she has been preaching against.
After a video from the birthday party she hosted for her husband surfaced online showing a crowded room with her friends and family member celebrating, despite the lockdown and social distancing order, Nigerians who have been at a disadvantage with the whole lockdown order, trooped to social media to call her out for risking the lives of others just for the sake of celebrating a birthday.
See some of the bashing she has received on Twitter:
#WalkingHumanJollofRice
Dear @NCDCgov your Ambassador Funke Akindele, Her Husband JJC, Eniola Badmus, Naira Marley & the Entire Family threw a packed House Party Ystd. I love Funke & have nothing against her but Everyone in that House should be Forcefully Quarantined. Pls treat as Urgent.
#OurFavOnlineDoc
@DrOlufunmilayo
Funke Akindele’s excuse is stupid, it is silly and is actually a shameful lie. So Naira Marley has been living in your house for 14 days? That restless Naira Marley? Really? And even if it were true Why are people in your house for 14 days? I
@aproko_doctor
Pay attention to what people do and not what they say. A few million naira and a camera and Funke Akindele will say anything you want her to say regardless of whether she believes it or not. What she did made the work harder for the NCDC she is supposed to be representing.
@UgwunnaEjikem
I’d be very plain. If you are defending Funke Akindele & co. You are a very stupid person…its that simple. Tomorrow you come and troll Lauretta, Tolu & co for being sycophants, at least they are being stupid for a paycheck. But you? You are being stupid for free
@Tife_fabunmi
It’s actually disappointing when we see educated people act like illiterates. Imagine a NCDC ambassador who is aware of what’s right and still doing the opposite Even if you don’t care about your own health, what about those that attended the party? Funke Akindele messed up mehn.