End of Polio in Africa: A dream come true for Emeka Offor as W.H.O declares the continent wild-polio free

• By Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu

The Independent Africa Regional Certification Commission (ARCC) for Polio Eradication on Tuesday August 25, 2020, declared Africa Wild-Polio free, four years after the last case was recorded in Nigeria. Announcing the certification during a World Health Organization (WHO) event, ARCC confirmed that all forty-seven countries in WHO’s Africa region have eradicated the crippling viral disease that can cause irreversible paralysis within hours.

Polio eradication had been a dream of Nigerians and entire world and to achieve that, some notable individuals and groups sacrificed both their time and wealth for the cause. Sir Dr. Emeka Offor, an Oraifite-born business man and billionaire remained at the forefront with Rotary International to eradicate the viral disease in Nigeria, Africa and world at large. Sir E as he is fondly called made a giant step when he donated the sum of 3.5 million United States Dollars to the Rotary foundation in 2019 to combat the scourge. The donation was revealed by the National Chairman, Nigeria Polio Committee of Rotary International, Dr. Abdulrahman Olatunji Funsho during the End Polo Now campaign, where Sir Offor and two artistes, Inetimi Alfred Udom (Timaya) and Chibuzor Azubuike (Phyno), were presented as ambassadors of Rotary International. According to Dr. Funsho, the donation was the largest by an individual to Rotary Foundation in the whole of Africa.

Before the 2019 donation, Sir. Dr. Emeka Offor also announced a donation of one million United States Dollars. He made the donation during the 2013 Convention of Rotary International. Announcing the huge donation, the philanthropist said that his commitment to ending polio was a personal one. According to him, scores of his friends and classmates fell victim to the disease and as a young man he vowed that he would someday do something significant to end polio in Nigeria, and interestingly he worked tirelessly and ensured that the vow was fulfilled. Sir Dr. Offor has generally committed over four million United States Dollars to the cause and presently, he is also at the forefront of fighting and ending the novel Corona Virus in Nigeria.

Recently through his Foundation, Sir. Emeka Offor Foundation, he donated medical equipment and educational materials worth thirty million United States Dollars to Nigeria and eighteen other African countries. Beneficiaries of the donation in Nigeria were fourteen hospitals and medical institutions including General Hospital Oraifite Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital Awka Anambra State, National Orthopedic Hospital Enugu, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital Maiduguri, General Hospital Daura, Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa, Kebbi State Medical Centre, Kalgo, Kebbi State, The Nigerian Police and Nigerian Army.

He has also through his foundation in collaboration with Books for Africa (BFA), donated books worth millions of dollars to various schools and tertiary institutions in Nigeria and Africa. Nnamdi Azikiwe University has been a major beneficiary of his book donations for several years running.

President Muhammadu Buhari on 29th June, 2020, officially wrote him and thanked him for his giant support that ensured total eradication of polio in Nigeria. The presidency also released a press statement on Tuesday 25th August, 2020 and appreciated him, other Nigerians and groups for ensuring that Wild-Polio is a history in Africa.

• Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu