Africans in their unique cultural tradition
are endowed with rich social capital.
Therefore, the welfare of each child in
any community is inherently the
responsibility of all, which gives
credence to the proverb "it takes a
village to raise a child". In the world of
business, that same spirit of communal
support extends into our modern
appreciation of corporate social
responsibility, more aptly identified as
social sustainability and philanthropy.
Philanthropy, whether internally
generated or from external sources, is
not a novel concept within the domain of
the rich and wealthy. It is a principle that
has addressed the fundamental
challenges of our societies beyond the
capabilities of the public sector. What is
phenomenal, however, is the pace and
scope of giving among Africans who have
risen to play on the grander stage
usually occupied by foreign western
governments, international NGOs,
prominent and super-wealthy
individuals, and multi-national
corporations. These emerging and highly
successful African entrepreneurs are
global Pan-Africanists who take great
pride in the “African Renaissance” and
have solidly embraced the traditions of
their forefathers to be their brothers’
keeper.
While we value and continue to welcome
the commitment and support of UNICEF,
WHO, CDC, the Bill & Melinda Gates
Foundation, and other international
donor organizations, we are proudly
cognizant of our homegrown
philanthropists and economic game-
changers of our new Africa. A 2014
publication from IRIN, the humanitarian
news and analysis service of the UN
Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs, highlighted a few
African philanthropists who are having a
significant impact on the continent. Top
on their list are the following Nigerian
philanthropists: Aliko Dangote, Jim Ovia,
Tony Elumelu, Arthur Eze, and
Theophilus Danjuma. Several others
from South Africa and Zimbabwe are
also mentioned. The list is not entirely
comprehensive but it shows that Africans
are not idly watching from behind the
fence waiting for others to address our
problems and challenges. In fact, IRIN
News reports that African philanthopists
contribute an estimated $7 billion
annually to an array of worthy causes.
Let us now turn the spotlight on health,
and specifically, the Global Polio
Eradication Initiatives (GPEI). Prior to
the discovery of the Inactivated Polio
Virus (IPV) vaccine by Jonas Salk, polio
ravaged the global community almost
unimpeded. This devastating disease
led to paralysis and often death of an
estimated half million people annually.
Confronting the polio health crisis
became a challenging burden of leading
nations and global health agencies. The
polio vaccine discovery paved the way
for an expedient relief, cutting the cases
of polio in the U.S. from 20,000 per year
in the 1950’s to 1000 per year in the
1960's. In 1988, through Rotary
International support, the World Health
Assembly articulated a global response
to polio eradication. From 350,000
documented cases of polio in 1988 to a
remarkable low in 2014, Rotary
International, seeing the possibility of
global eradication, is not letting up.
Presently, there are only three countries
in the world where polio remains
endemic, namely, Afghanistan, Pakistan,
and Nigeria.
One cannot speak of polio eradication
efforts in Africa without mentioning the
determined and passionate commitment
of Rotary International’s Polio
Ambassador to Nigeria, Sir Emeka Offor.
Sir Offor, who is the founder of the Sir
Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) and one
of Nigeria’s most versatile and successful
businessmen, is not just the leading
African donor to Rotary International’s
polio efforts, he is also the Continent’s
most active and vocal advocate for the
eradication of polio, a tireless health
crusader, and an impassionate voice for
the preservation of health for all. One
cannot speak of polio eradication in
Nigeria without taking note of Sir Offor.
Known as a modest and self-effacing
businessman, the Executive Vice
Chairman of the Chrome Group and the
Chairman of Kaztec Engineering Limited
has quietly steamed past his compatriots
with an accumulated total donation of
$3.1 million. Matched by the Bill &
Melinda Gates 2 for 1 program, a new
aggregate total of $9.3 million is
accredited to Sir Emeka Offor.
It is important to underscore that while
we have seen a 99% global reduction in
the number of polio cases, there are still
roadblocks to achieving the end game in
Nigeria. Access to some interior
communities in the heavily volatile areas
of the Northeast has proven problematic
in the heat of insurgent activities of the
Islamic group Boko Haram. The Federal
Government, however, is actively
addressing these challenges. One
approach that ought to be applauded is
the defiance and bold strategy of “quick
entry and exit” coordinated by polio
workers at the grassroots in concert with
community dwellers when the perceived
threats of insurgent activities are low. In
other words, when information filters
through from locals that the insurgent
activities have tapered, then polio
workers make a quick entry into the area
and immunize children and then vacate
the community. Such social innovations
and the commitment of health workers
have provided sufficient buffer in the
containment of polio and without
equivocation formed the basis for the
success Nigeria recorded in contending
with Ebola.
Recognizing these realities, Sir Offor
recently allocated considerable financial
resources to establish a center for
tracking polio cases in the country. The
new office not only serves as a hub for
advocacy but also a proving ground for
polio related policies and inter-agency
cooperation. . Sir Offor's financial
commitments and his widely recognized
altruism have enabled Rotary to
complement Government’s efforts and
reduce the number of polio cases
significantly to 6 in 2014, an 85%
reduction compared to previous years.
In fact, a recent article by mega-
philanthropist Ted Turner, the erstwhile
owner of Time-Warner, titled "No Letting
up Fight to end Polio", he further
substantiates that over 75% of all
children in eight Northern Nigerian
States have been successfully
immunized against polio in spite of a
deadly insurgency and unprecedented
insecurity in Northeastern Nigeria. This
is evidence of the immense strides made
in Nigeria towards eradication of the
disease.
Nigeria has the resolve, the human
capacity, and a renewed political will to
bring an end to polio. Private sector
support without equivocation is
paramount to achieving the desired goal.
Sir Offor and other like-minded Nigerian
philanthropists believe that the end-
game is closer than ever before. In his
official capacity as Rotary International’s
Polio Ambassador to Nigeria, Sir Offor
has said he "will not rest until every child
is immunized and Nigeria is polio free".
This “privatization” of polio eradication
efforts, I believe, represents a real
turning point in Nigeria’s long fight
against this crippling disease.
It has taken leaders of uncommon vision,
unbridled action, and deep compassion
and commitment to get us to where we
are today. When the story of polio
eradication in Nigeria is written, Sir
Emeka Offor will feature prominently in
the pantheon of the philanthro-
capitalists who made it happen.
Details Category: News and
Events Published on 01
November 2014




sireofforfoundation.org/index.php/news-and-events/250-overcoming-obstacles-to-eradicate-polio-sir-emeka-offor-leads-way

NONSENSE

CUM4WHAT:
NONSENSE

Parasites, even your leaders, big men and elites hate you but you only turn around to hate Igbos.

globenewswire.com/news-release/2015/07/23/754668/10142955/en/Sir-Emeka-Offor-Foundation-Vows-to-Keep-Fighting-Polio-After-Defeat-of-Disease-in-Nigeria.html

BuddahMonk:


Parasites, even your leaders, big men and elites hate you but you only turn around to hate Igbos.

globenewswire.com/news-release/2015/07/23/754668/10142955/en/Sir-Emeka-Offor-Foundation-Vows-to-Keep-Fighting-Polio-After-Defeat-of-Disease-in-Nigeria.html

who is dis "you" u talking about?

Left for you and your leaders polio will ravage that cursed desert in 3 millenniums to come, they will rather invest in underage girls and curse more VVF patients than to eradicate polio in their accursed desert

Don't mind all they know is to open their leprous tuwo shinkafi mouths and shout 'Igbo will not be President' while their pedophilic leaders are marrying 10 year old arab girls every year in zamfara . Moronic baboons!

Parasites and Ingrates to whom? What a load of bullshit.

If anyone should be grateful is the Igbos, for enjoying the the freedom to live free, insult whoever they like and even vie for the highest office in the land; despite their rebellious crime of treachery against the nation and derailing our nascent democracy from true federalism, with autonomous regions; to the central unitary system we have today, brought by no other than their Igbo hero Agui Ironsi.

If not for the magnanimity and generosity of General Yakubu Gowon (former military Head of State) who declared no winner no vanquished after the war along with the three R programmes of Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction; aimed towards embracing and re-admitting Igbos back as equal citizens; otherwise as conquered ppl, the Igbo status and destiny would have been different today.

By the norms of natural history, the vanquished are usually cosigned to a life of servitude under their conquerors; accordingly Igbos as the vanquished should therefore be our slaves today and not equals, let alone have the audacity to insult anybody as parasite or even have the guts to open their rotten igbotic mouths to complain 'Buhari no give us SSG'.

Who therefore is the Ingrate?

On the issue of parasitism; let someone pls explain how northerners are parasitic to Igbos, a ppl who infest every part of the north in their droves, including the much dreaded Boko Haram embedded Borno, as economic refugees.

^^^^

The vanquished are now saving your ungrateful parasites from polio, VVF and other childhood killer diseases while your looting elites spend their money marrying underaged Arab girls.

You parasites are the reason Nigeria is backward and nu seating with your bigotry, tribalism, nepotism and blood letting.

We will help you rebuild your wartorned North East while your politicians still splash fortunes on teen Arab girls and leave you in the mercy of terrorists and vampires.

We will always exhibit our magnanimity but let your elites keep rushing for the freshest Arab kitten

ItsMeAboki:
[s]Parasites and Ingrates to whom? What a load of bullshit.

If anyone should be grateful is the Igbos, for enjoying the the freedom to live free, insult whoever they like and even vie for the highest office in the land; despite their rebellious crime of treachery against the nation and derailing our nascent democracy from true federalism, with autonomous regions; to the central unitary system we have today, brought by no other than their Igbo hero Agui Ironsi.

If not for the magnanimity and generosity of General Yakubu Gowon (former military Head of State) who declared no winner no vanquished after the war along with the three R programmes of Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction; aimed towards embracing and re-admitting Igbos back as equal citizens; otherwise as conquered ppl, the Igbo status and destiny would have been different today.

By the norms of natural history, the vanquished are usually cosigned to a life of servitude under their conquerors; accordingly Igbos as the vanquished should therefore be our slaves today and not equals, let alone have the audacity to insult anybody as parasite or even have the guts to open their rotten igbotic mouths to complain 'Buhari no give us SSG'.

Who therefore is the Ingrate?

On the issue of parasitism; let someone pls explain how northerners are parasitic to Igbos, a ppl who infest every part of the north in their droves, including the much dreaded Boko Haram embedded Borno, as economic refugees[/s].

Abboki sharrrap!

Go and drink your fura da nono. Foooolish almajiri parasite

Accumulated 9.3 million dollars, if only dis money was used in building and equiping an all fields research institute. I doubt if there is any project instituted by Dangote in East. When will Igbos learn and drop their one Nigeria patriotism dat other tribes do not believe in.

You have not explained how northerners are parasitic on Igbos - pls explain.

Meanwhile, as for politicians marrying very young girls (who you call under aged) pls google your your own history?
Maybe you may find that, the Owelle of Onitsha and first President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, married his youngest wife, Uche, a member of the renowned Afikpo traditional dance named ‘Nkwa Nwite’ which entertained him when he visited Afikpo, when he was in his 70s while Uche was barely 16 years.

Following closely behind his footsteps are Ojukwu and more recently Chief Tony Anenih (pictured here) who at 81 married a 21 yr old.

melzabull:
Abboki sharrrap!

Go and drink your fura da nono. Foooolish almajiri parasite

Eya, so dem dey allow una break from production, abi your womb done expire?

I here say young Igbo girls are now the latest introduced technology in baby production factories - so you even get time reach internet, lallai!

ItsMeAboki:


Eya, so dem dey allow una break from production, abi your womb done expire?

I here say young Igbo girls are now the latest introduced technology in baby production factories - so you even get time reach internet, lallai!

Abboki nama, I hope you have already given out your 11year old sister for marriage?

you should be more concerned about treating her of VVF she got from from her paedophile husband

ItsMeAboki:
You have not explained how northerners are parasitic on Igbos - pls explain.

Meanwhile, as for politicians marrying very young girls (who you call under aged) pls google your your own history?
Maybe you may find that, the Owelle of Onitsha and first President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, married his youngest wife, Uche, a member of the renowned Afikpo traditional dance named ‘Nkwa Nwite’ which entertained him when he visited Afikpo, when he was in his 70s while Uche was barely 16 years.

Following closely behind his footsteps are Ojukwu and more recently Chief Tony Anenih (pictured here) who at 81 married a 21 yr old.

Nobody in your lineage can be half as great as the people you just mentioned

Dirty aboki bastard

melzabull:
Abboki nama, I hope you have already given out your 11year old sister for marriage?

you should be more concerned about treating her of VVF she got from from her paedophile husband

So you still get time for here, biko shouldn't you be on your back waiting for the next round with the chief impregnator, useless agaracha.

WailingWailer00:

Nobody in your lineage can be half as great as the people you just mentioned
Dirty aboki bastard

Bastards are those born out of wedlock, its no wonder that many of you coming off the production line without knowing your fathers have no reservation using that word; since being bastards comes naturally to you guys.

BuddahMonk:
^^^^

The vanquished are now saving your ungrateful parasites from polio, VVF and other childhood killer diseases while your looting elites spend their money marrying underaged Arab girls.

You parasites are the reason Nigeria is backward and nu seating with your bigotry, tribalism, nepotism and blood letting.

We will help you rebuild your wartorned North East while your politicians still splash fortunes on teen Arab girls and leave you in the mercy of terrorists and vampires.

We will always exhibit our magnanimity but let your elites keep rushing for the freshest Arab kitten

that picture is really disgusting.......