Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, Rotary International Intensify Campaign to End Polio

By Chinedu Echianu

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate World Polio Day, the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) in collaboration with Rotary International has launched a renewed campaign aimed at ensuring that all forms of polio are reduced to zero in the country.

World Polio Day, celebrated globally on October 24, was established by Rotary International to honour Dr. Jonas Salk, who led the team that developed the first effective vaccine against poliomyelitis.

Although Nigeria and most countries have been declared free of the wild poliovirus, the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, in partnership with Rotary District 9127, is sustaining advocacy and vaccination drives to prevent any relapse.

Speaking at a week-long event to commemorate World Polio Day, the District Polio Chair for Rotary International District 9127, Dr. Khadijat Yusuf, noted that the continued prevalence of the wild poliovirus in Afghanistan and Pakistan poses a lingering threat to Nigeria and the rest of the world.

“Until Afghanistan and Pakistan are polio free, all children around the world including Nigeria remain at risk, and that is why we are driving advocacy on vaccination in the country with the help of our partners such as the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation.” Dr. Yusuf said.

The Chief of Staff to the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, Retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police Chris Ezike, reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to eradicating polio, not just in Nigeria but globally, in line with Rotary International’s mission.

“The contributions we have made to Rotary International was meant to be applied to eradicate polio in the world, substantial part of those resources was used in Nigeria and Africa and the results were very manifest, the Foundation received Presidential mention and accolade for doing so.” Ezike remarked.

In his World Polio Day message, Sir Emeka Offor, who serves as Rotary International’s Polio Ambassador to Nigeria, highlighted the foundation’s ongoing support for vaccination campaigns in hard-to-reach areas, the strengthening of cold-chain systems to maintain vaccine potency, and the training and equipping of frontline health workers.

He added that the foundation is also focused on building community trust, engaging traditional and religious leaders, and integrating polio vaccination with other essential health services to strengthen Nigeria’s routine immunization system.

Offor emphasized that no child — regardless of location — should be left behind in the global effort to permanently eradicate polio.