From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Nigerian Rotary member and philanthropist, Sir Emeka Offor, has committed US$5 million through the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) to The Rotary Foundation to expand and strengthen its initiative aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in high-need areas of Nigeria.
“Helping mothers and babies survive and thrive is among the greatest investments we can make in Nigeria’s future,” said Sir Emeka Offor, founder of the SEOF and a member of the Rotary Club of Oraifite, District 9142, Nigeria. “We have seen a unique opportunity to build upon a Rotary-led programme to further turn the tide on maternal and child mortality by working together. This partnership marks a powerful step forward for the health and wellbeing of families across Nigeria.”
Nigeria has some of the highest maternal and newborn mortality rates in the world. Improving access to prenatal care and skilled deliveries in equipped facilities has been shown to reduce this burden.
Recognising this, the programme trains health workers, upgrades clinics, engages communities and strengthens health data systems. Two years into implementation, supported facilities in four target regions have reported increased antenatal visits and reductions of 20 percent in maternal deaths and 28 percent in neonatal deaths. The US$5 million gift from the Foundation reflects these early successes and will help expand the programme’s reach.
Rotary’s ‘Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria’ programme was first launched by Rotary members in Nigeria and Germany, in partnership with the Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health (RMCH), the Federal Ministry of Health, and leading professional health associations.
In 2022, it was the second programme to receive a Programme of Scale grant from The Rotary Foundation, an annual competitive process that awards $2 million to an evidence-based initiative driven by Rotary members with the capability for scaling up to help more people.
Sir Emeka Offor is chairman of the Chrome Group, a Nigerian-based conglomerate with interests spanning oil and gas, insurance and finance, power and energy, telecommunications, logistics and port management, and travel and hospitality. A long-time Rotary member and supporter, he is part of the Arch C. Klumph Society’s Platinum Trustee Circle, which recognizes contributions between US$2.5 million and US$4.99 million. He has donated over US$3 million to The Rotary Foundation, supporting four of Rotary’s key areas of focus: peace and conflict management, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, and polio eradication.