I'm African so I'll answer from an African stand point. No matter what you're doing, it's never ok to give or receive anything to and from anyone with your left hand.

In African culture, or at least in Nigerian culture, it's a sign of disrespect if you give a person something with your left hand, especially if it's someone that's older than you.

In Nigerian culture the left hand is associated with doing things that are irritating or dirty and as such giving someone something with your left hand is frowned upon. I'm not entirely sure where this tradition stems from but I have a feeling it has something to do with Christianity in Nigeria.

As far as Christianity goes, the left hand, in fact, the left side entirely is reserved for things that are unwanted or unclean and its quite possible that this particular belief was inculcated into Nigerian traditional beliefs as well.

Whatever the case, it's better for the right hand to give as well as to receive.