Sir Emeka Offor Foundation

Sir Emeka Offor and The Carter Center calls on the Hon Minister of Health

Details: Category: News and Events; Published on 18 February 2016

On Thursday, February 11, 2016, Sir Emeka Offor, the founder of Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF), made a courtesy call to the office of the Honorable Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Folorunsho Adewole to commend him for his efforts in motion to stem the spread of Lassa Fever in the country.

In his introduction, Sir Emeka said, “we are profoundly appreciative of your timeous response to the health crisis that beset our nation and we are confident that your oversight will properly guide us through this period, and Lassa fever will be wiped out just as we defeated Ebola.”

Sir Emeka was accompanied by the former Minister of State for Health, Dr. Idi Hong, Country Representative for The Carter Center, Dr. Emmanuel Miri, Alhaji Kaula Aliu, Former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Howard Jeter (Rtd), Head Communications for Chrome Group, Dr. Edwin Ndukwe.

The founder of SEOF, who is also the Rotary International Polio Ambassador, used the opportunity to intimate the Hon Minister of his continuing role on the road to a polio-free Nigeria and his commitment to the ongoing partnership with The Carter Center for the elimination of River Blindness by the year 2020.

Nigeria, as you may recall, has been delisted from the pack of polio-endemic nations since August of 2015, and now, awaits World Health Organization’s Certification, as being polio-free, which is anticipated by 2017.

The road to success recorded in the END POLIO campaign over the years was not an easy one, but nevertheless remarkable considering the episodal challenges of both culture and religion in creating access to immunization. By far, a cohesive Public-Private Partnership and the generous contributions from patriotic Nigerians like Sir Emeka Offor was in part contributory to the appreciated outcome.

On the fight against River Blindness (RB), Dr. Emmanuel Miri explained the scope of the ongoing partnership between The Carter Center and SEOF. In his presentation, Dr. Miri expressed optimism in Sir Emeka's financial commitment of ($10 million over a seven-year span) towards a complete elimination of the disease. He acknowledged that this was unprecedented and by far the largest grant from a single African donor in Carter Center’s history and that the funding would go towards Carter Center interventions against RB in the designated seven states within the South-East and South-South of the country. He prayed the Hon Minister to fast-track the adoption of a two-dose per year model for RB elimination instead of the current one dose per year. Implementing the two dose per year would shorten the treatment duration from 15 years to 7 years, according to Dr. Miri.

The Carter Center has been at the forefront of efforts, in collaboration with the Nigerian government, to rid our society of RB and other Neglected Tropical Diseases since 1988. The Center had a similar focus that led to the elimination of Guinea Worm from Nigeria. The impetus for guinea worm defeat inspired the campaign to see that the burden of RB (40% global disease burden) is erased from the country.

Prof Adewole while receiving Sir Emeka Offor expressed profound gratitude for the latter's contribution to ensuring that all Nigerian children are immunized with the polio vaccine. He commended Sir Emeka for being an exemplary Nigeria. According to the Hon Minister, Nigerians who are making significant contributions to the growth and welfare of the society should be celebrated. He expressed the government's determination to collaborate with well-meaning non-governmental agencies, like SEOF, to bring about the "change" aspirations of the new administration in the health sector.

Ambassador Howard Jeter, who gave the Hon Minister a broader scope of the Foundations's work in and around the continent, also used the opportunity to present, as a gift, a set of books written by former U.S. President, Jimmy Carter, to the Hon. Minister. President Carter personally autographed the books for the Minister.

Sir Emeka Offor donates N50 Million to Rotary Foundation on World Polio Day

Details: Category: News and Events; Published on 24 October 2015

Nigerian Rotarians joins Rotarians all over the world to commemorate the concerted effort to rid the face of the earth of polio disease on this special "World Polio Day", October 24th, 2015.

This year's celebration marks a special health milestone for Nigeria having registered zero case of polio for over a year since the last paralysis associated with wild poliovirus Type 1 was recorded on July 24th, 2014. The success of the anti-polio campaign in Nigeria is believed to be as a result of appreciable coordination of both the public and private sector participators along with the continued support from International and local donors.

Key donors who have played and are continuing to play a significant role in meeting the funding gap includes USAID, UNICEF, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and billionaire businessman, Sir Emeka Offor of Sir Emeka Offor Foundation. On this year's celebration, Sir Emeka Offor applauds the efforts of all Rotarians and health workers who navigate through treacherous high-risk zones of the north-eastern Nigeria to deliver the needed vaccines to immunize his country's young children.

At this year's celebration, Sir Emeka renewed his commitment to ending polio in Nigeria by donating N50 Million to Rotary Foundation. Addressing Rotarians and citizens of Port-Harcourt, in Rivers State at the commemorative World Polio Day event, he said,

"Today, we celebrate World Polio Day with a deep sense of accomplishment and appreciation for all our collective efforts to see an end to this dreaded disease in Nigeria.

Your financial contributions,

Your commitment to service,

Your goodwill

Your belief in our shared humanity

The unflinching support of our local and International donors

And the dedication of health care workers across Nigeria

Have brought us to this major milestone.

Rotarians! I salute you.

While we celebrate, we must bear in mind that our work is not yet done.

We must forge ahead with all determination,

With all vigilance,

And with all perseverance

So that we can rejoice and celebrate in a grander arena when the World Health Organization hands over the final seal of “Polio-Free” Nigeria to us in 2017.

So, let us go out and continue to immunize every child under 5 years of age

Let us continue to pursue advocacy

Let us continue to donate our time and resources.

Until Polio is no longer a threat to our children

I know I will.

Thank you very much."

After his remark, Sir Emeka joined District Governors and Rotarians alike to immunize over five hundred (500) young children who had gathered at the Secretariat, near Presidential Hotel, Port-Harcourt.

Sir Emeka Offor Commends President Buhari's Polio-Free Push

Details: Category: News and Events; Published on 03 September 2015

Press Release

ABUJA, NIGERIA--(Marketwired - Sep 3, 2015) - Having reached a major health milestone in the effort to END POLIO NOW, Sir Emeka Offor today commended President Muhammadu Buhari for making public his determination to see that Nigeria is certified polio-free by 2017. Sir Emeka is the Rotary International Polio Ambassador and the founder of Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, a non-governmental, philanthropic organization focused on healthcare, youth employment, families, education and infrastructure development.

"The fight to eradicate polio from Nigeria is not possible without the critical leadership of the Federal Government," said Sir Emeka. "We have come this far because of our collective efforts. We will go further and build on the successes of the past and I believe that together, we will cross the finish line."

During his meeting with Governors of polio vulnerable states, President Buhari said that he would not 'tolerate any gap' that might prevent Nigeria being certified polio-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) by the year 2017.

"I want to reaffirm the commitment of the Federal Government to sustain the gains and momentum to enable Nigeria to achieve certification by 2017," President Buhari was quoted as saying. "I am therefore inviting you to join me in actualizing this pledge as experts have cautioned that the progress we have made in the polio eradication efforts is still very fragile and that there is the risk of gains reversal if we don't sustain this great effort and allow complacency to set in."

Speaking from his Foundation Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, Sir Emeka said he was pleased with the sheer determination and affirmation by the President. He also spoke highly of the Rotary Foundation, WHO, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other key stakeholders who have contributed immensely to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Sir Emeka further recognized the selfless efforts of community health workers who traverse security challenged zones to immunize children against the disease. He acknowledged that these grassroots frontline agents often are not appreciated for their contributions in the global theater of the fight against polio and that it should change.

“Thank You”, RI President 2016-2017 tells Sir Offor

Details: Category: News and Events; Published on 24 July 2015

John Germ and Sir Emeka Offor Today, John F. Germ, President-Elect, Rotary International 2016-2017, wrote a Thank You letter to Sir Emeka Offor, acknowledging his unwavering effort towards polio eradication as Nigeria is delisted from endemic nations.
What this means is that, should Nigeria remain free from Wild Polio Virus, we will be declared a polio free nation by 2017. John Germ however pointed out that Afghanistan and Pakistan are yet to attain Nigeria’s milestone while reminding everybody that any polio case anywhere puts the rest of the world at risk.
He urged Sir Emeka Offor not to relent in his commitment towards the fight against Polio, as his effort so far has made it possible for Nigeria to attain zero cases of Polio infections.

Read the letter here