On his way to the Rotary International Convention in Sydney to announce a $1m donation to polio eradication, Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Sir Emeka Offor stopped in London to attend an End Polio Now celebration. He met three polio survivors, Gautam Lewis, Anne Wafula Strike, and Manoj Somal who told their stories of how they had overcome their disabilities. The three of them then got the surprise of their lives when Sir Emeka asked them to join him in Sydney the next day and within 12 hours all three were on a plane bound for the Harbour City. Guatam Lewis, a pilot and entertainment manager said: “We were all thrilled by Sir Emeka’s kind invitation. It is very rare that doors like this open and when they do you should go right through. Sir Emeka means what he says and has demonstrated his commitment to polio eradication by bringing us to Sydney.”
Sir Emeka has now made contributions to Rotary’s campaign to rid the world of polio of over $3.1 million. He explained to delegates in Sydney that his commitment to ending polio is personal, saying: “Scores of my friends and classmates fell victim to this dreaded disease and as a young man I vowed that I would someday do something significant to end polio in Nigeria.”
A member of the Rotary Club of Awka Gra, Sir Emeka also serves as Rotary’s PolioPlus ambassador in Nigeria. He recently opened a PolioPlus ambassador’s office at no cost to Rotary in Abuja. The office serves as a hub for his ambassadorial activities and supports the work of the Nigeria PolioPlus Committee.
Sir Emeka added: “With the support of the international community, the Nigerian government is doing all that it can to eliminate the widespread violence, abductions and terrorism in the country. Peace would facilitate polio eradication, but we cannot sit by and wait until that time comes. We must do what we can to find ways to end polio now.”
