By Seyi Odewale
It emerged yesterday that the Rotary International Foundation has committed about a $2m grant to maternal and child healthcare in Nigeria.
The initiative builds on the organisation’s intensified efforts to eradicate polio, culminating in Nigeria being declared free of the polio endemic in 2020.
Speaking at a press briefing, Victor Onukwugha, Past District Governor and Chairman of the Trustee Chair’s Visit to Nigeria Committee, emphasized the importance of the ongoing efforts.
He disclosed that Rotary International Foundation Trustee Chair Mark D. Maloney is set to visit Nigeria next week.
According to Onukwugha, the visit presents a valuable opportunity for Nigeria to access more significant benefits from the global humanitarian organization.
Onukwugha disclosed that the District benefited from $2m in grants from the Rotary International Foundation’s Programme of Scale, dedicated to improving maternal and child health.
He explained that the Rotary Foundation provides four types of grants: district grants, global grants, disaster funds, and the newest addition, the Programme of Scale.
“These are the avenues through which the Rotary Foundation continues to make a difference globally,” he said.
According to him, the visit would spotlight the initiatives of all six Rotary Districts in Nigeria that make up Rotary International District 9127 and further advocate for Rotary’s humanitarian work in the country.
“Since its establishment, only three countries in the world have benefited from it, Nigeria being one, and the Nigerian fund, which is about $2m, is channelled to maternal and child care,” he said.
He said the visit would also give Maloney the opportunity to see how the fund has been spent, knowing full well that Nigeria would still benefit more from the Foundation.
He also disclosed that President Bola Tinubu would host Rotary International Chief during the visit.
According to him, Maloney’s visit, alongside his spouse, Gay, from January 15 to 20, 2025, underscores the significant role Rotary plays in global humanitarian efforts, with a particular focus on its impact in Nigeria.
Maloney, who would also hold a town hall meeting with Rotarians and non-Rotarians in Nigeria in Abuja during the visit, would also witness a symbolic polio immunization exercise considering the feat the country has made to combat polio.
Noting that Nigeria has been a significant beneficiary, particularly in its fight against polio, Onukwugha said, “Through donations from Nigerians and people in over 200 countries, Rotary has helped Nigeria transition from being the country with the highest polio cases to being polio-free since 2020.”
Emphasising Rotary’s global impact, particularly in eradicating polio, Onukwugha highlighted the humanitarian body’s ongoing partnership with the Nigerian government, which resulted in the country being formally certified polio-free in 2020.
“The Nigeria Polio Plus Committee recently donated $14 million to sustain polio eradication efforts. This collaboration demonstrates Rotary’s unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s health sector.
“This is the first time in many years that a Trustee Chair of the Rotary Foundation is visiting Nigeria, and we are excited about the opportunities it presents.
“Rotary International, founded in 1905 as a fellowship and service organization, established its humanitarian arm, the Rotary International Foundation, in 1917. From a modest beginning of $26.05, the Foundation’s endowment has grown to over $2bn.
“The Foundation has become the engine through which Rotary has been doing well worldwide,” Onukwugha noted.
Maloney is expected also to visit Lagos before he departs the country.
