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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Rotary International through its Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has stated that polio remains a public health challenge in Nigeria despite the clean bill of health given the country by the World Health Organization (WHO) a few years ago.
Rotary International registered this concern at an event organised by the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation in Abuja, to mark the 2025 World Polio Day with the theme, “End Polio: Every Child, Every Vaccine, Everywhere”.
In his remarks, Sir Emeka Offor, a renowned philanthropist and businessman, expressed profound appreciation to everyone that contributed in one way or the other to the fight against polio in the past few years.
He said: “As we mark World Polio Day 2025, I speak to the world with immense gratitude for how far we have come, and with renewed determination to finish the journey we started together. Through Rotary International, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), and the dedication of countless Nigerians, we have transformed what once seemed impossible into a story of real progress and hope.
“Across Africa, and here in Nigeria, the story of polio has changed. Wild poliovirus is gone from our soil, but our mission is not yet complete. The threat of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus still exists, and that means our vigilance must not waver. The progress we have achieved shows what is possible when partners, governments, communities, and individuals unite for one goal: to protect every child, everywhere.”
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He assured that the Foundation would not relent in playing its part in the fight against polio, stating it commitment to supporting vaccination drives in hard-to-reach areas.
“But as we celebrate our gains, we must remember that polio anywhere remains a threat to children everywhere. The final steps toward total eradication require even greater commitment. Governments must maintain strong surveillance, expand routine immunization, and support the frontline workers who make every campaign possible.
“At Emeka Offor Foundation, we remain steadfast. In 2025 and beyond, we are working with Rotary International and our GPEI partners to integrate polio vaccines with other essential health services; support digital tracking and rapid response systems; strengthen Nigeria’s routine immunization network; ensure that no child, no matter where they live is left behind,” he added.
He encouraged every parent, volunteer, and health worker to trust the science, trust the vaccines, and join in protecting the next generation, insisting that the fight against polio is not just about a virus, but about securing a healthier, stronger, more hopeful future for every Nigerian child
Dr. Kudirat Yusuf, District Polio Chair, District 9127 Nigeria, in her remarks, raised the alarm against complacency, insisting that Nigeria should not relent in the fight against polio, considering the fact that two other countries in the world, Pakistan and Afghanistan, still bears the burden of the disease.
She stressed the importance of strong border protection to sustain the success against polio and possibly forestall any new case of wild poliovirus from infiltrating into the country.
