Sir Emeka Offor Foundation

Sir Emeka Offor Foundation joins Rotary to mark World Polio Day

The Sir Emeka Offor Foundation joins Rotary International to mark World Polio day which takes place every year on 24th of October. The foundation joined Rotary International at Family Health Clinic at Area 2 Abuja to immunize children against wild poliovirus which is aimed at creating more encouragement and awareness to parents on the importance of vaccinating their children.

The End Polio Now Coordinator for zone 20 Africa, PGD (Mrs) Ijeoma Okoro implored parents that immunization is going on all over Africa simultaneously and no child should be left out. 'As we are marking World Polio Day, immunization of all children below the age of five is ongoing all over Africa and parents should make sure their kids are not left out', she stated. Hon. Elvis Chukwu, the DG District 9125 of Rotary International Abuja used the occasion to thank Sir Emeka Offor for his presence and unwavering support of his Foundation to the eradication of polio in the world.

Sir Emeka Offor who is the Rotary International Polio Ambassador to Nigeria and Africa's highest donor to Rotary International stated that, 'more access to the boarder communities and war affected communities of north east should be created so that every child will be reached and the relapse we experienced in 2016 will not repeat itself. I was told that if by 21st August 2019 no polio is recorded in Nigeria, we will be declared Polio free. So I plead with every health worker, our government, parents and everybody to join hands together in making sure that polio is totally eradicated in Nigeria before August next year'.

In 2016, Nigeria was on its way to becoming a polio free country when three new cases of Polio were discovered. If by August 21st 2019 no new case is reported, Nigeria will be declared polio free and subsequently removed from the list of three polio endemic countries including Pakistan and Afghanistan. Polio is an infectious disease most commonly affecting children under the age of 5 by destroying their nerve cells in the spinal cord, causing muscle wasting, paralysis and sometimes death. Over 99.9% of world polio infection rate have been eradicated leaving a handful of infectious cases in polio endemic countries of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria (PAN).

Obi Ebuka Onochie

Photo Credits: Alex Aghomi

 

 

SEOF Distributes Books to Tertiary Institutions

The Sir Emeka Offor Foundation in Oraifite, Anambra state over the weekend, welcomed schools from various parts of the country, as the foundation distributed books to over forty tertiary institutions in the country, in its Supplementary Books Distribution Ceremony for 2018. Over $25 Million worth of books have been distributed across Africa.

The founder of the foundation, Sir Emeka Offor, in collaboration with Books for Africa, in 2013, started a philanthropic mission of books distribution to several secondary and tertiary institutions in Nigeria and other African countries with a view to giving Africans a better academic advantage. Since 2013 till date, many tertiary institutions have benefited from the books distribution all over Africa.

The foundation on October 6, 2018, had about 40 tertiary institutions in Nigeria went back to their institutions with cartons of books, ranging from academic books, books on general knowledge and computer accessories.  

Speaking at the ceremony, the chief host of the foundation, Sir Emeka Offor, represented by Dr. Steve Dike, said academic standards of the country is eroding and unfortunately, Nigeria now relies on foreign countries to get man-power.  

He added that the foundation strategically distributes books to the six geopolitical zones in the country, as it believes that economic development of a country can only be sustained when there are key human capitals to support it, and these human capitals need to be developed.

The Chairman Committee of Vice-Chancellors for Nigeria and Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra state, Professor Joseph Ahaneku, in his remarks said there is need to pay more attention to reading, not just to pass exams but to acquire skills and the knowledge to develop the nation.

He said the books distributed by the foundation will be useful to those who are development-oriented and will help for speedy accreditation of university courses.  

Also present at the event with his team was the Vice-Chancellor, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu, Ebonyi state, Prof. Chinedum Nwajuba, who could not stop lamenting the sudden collapse of education in the country.

Prof. Nwajuba said examination malpractice no longer stops at students cheating in exam halls, but with parents paying for their wards to attend schools where they will be allowed to cheat and make good results. Adding that there is urgent need to re-introduce students to ‘burning mid-night candles’ in order to pass exams.

Other representatives from the University of Ibadan, University of Abuja, Federal University, Lokoja, Taraba and many other universities, also showed appreciation to the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation as they went back to their schools with their own share of the books.

Photo by Alex Aghomi

 

SEOF Organizes Community Mental Health Facilitators Training

The Sir Emeka Offor Foundation under its Health Program organized a Mental Health training, awareness and sensitization Program. The facilitators from The Educator Inc., a non-profit organization based in the United States of America with a vision of promoting healthy individual and family development through training, advocacy and policy formulation, were on ground to create mental health awareness.
The founder of the foundation, Sir Emeka Offor was present with other dignitaries including medical doctors, academia, captains of industries, NDLEA and Police. Others present also included Psychology, Medical and Nursing students, market men and women, widows, orphans, and many others from diverse backgrounds made themselves available for the sensitization.
The sensitization is the commencement of series of more sensitizations, advocacies and trainings that will culminate in certification of individuals who will carry Mental Health Program to the nooks and crannies of the society. The event took place on the 6th of July 2018 at Sir Emeka Offor Foundation headquarters Oraifite, Anambra State.

By Obi Ebuka Onochie
Photo Credit: Alex Aghomi

Easter Smiles for Widows Courtesy Sir Emeka Offor Foundation

 

On the 25th of March 2018, the Founder of SEOF, Sir Emeka Offor kept his promise to the 2,000 widows under his Foundation during Mothering Sunday. He had assured them that each person would go home with a bag of rice before Easter celebration.
Each widow went smiling home with a Sir Emeka Offor Foundation branded bag of rice. The Widows' Cooperative is one of the outreaches of the Foundation that sees to the warfare of the widows.

 

By Obi Ebuka Onochie
Photo Credit: Alex Aghomi