Emeka Offor Foundation Donates $5 Million to Enhance Rotary’s Maternal and Child Health Initiative in Nigeria
Nigerian philanthropist and Rotary member Sir Emeka Offor has pledged a generous $5 million through the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) to The Rotary Foundation, aiming to bolster its efforts in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality rates in Nigeria’s underserved regions.
“Investing in the health of mothers and children is one of the most significant contributions we can make towards Nigeria’s future,” stated Sir Emeka Offor, founder of the SEOF and a member of the Rotary Club of Oraifite, District 9142. “We recognize a unique opportunity to enhance a Rotary-led initiative that addresses maternal and child mortality through collaboration. This partnership represents a vital step towards improving the health and wellbeing of families across Nigeria.”
Nigeria currently faces some of the highest maternal and newborn mortality rates globally. Access to prenatal care and skilled deliveries in properly equipped facilities has proven effective in alleviating this crisis. The Rotary-led initiative trains healthcare workers, upgrades medical facilities, engages communities, and enhances health data systems. After two years of implementation, supported facilities in four regions have witnessed a 20% decrease in maternal deaths and a 28% reduction in neonatal deaths, highlighting the program’s early success. The new $5 million investment from the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation will facilitate the program’s expansion.
“This remarkable commitment from the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation is timely and vital for our members’ ongoing efforts to enhance maternal and child health in Nigeria,” remarked Mark Maloney, Chair of the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation. “We are grateful for Sir Emeka’s partnership and his unwavering belief in Rotary’s potential to reach more communities and effect lasting change for families’ health and wellbeing.”
The ‘Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria’ initiative was launched through a collaboration between Rotary members in Nigeria and Germany, alongside the Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health (RMCH), the Federal Ministry of Health, and various leading health associations. In 2022, the program received a Programs of Scale grant from The Rotary Foundation, an annual competitive award of $2 million given to evidence-based initiatives led by Rotary members with the potential for significant scaling.
Sir Emeka Offor is the chairman of the Chrome Group, a Nigerian conglomerate with diverse interests in oil and gas, insurance, finance, power, telecommunications, logistics, and hospitality. A dedicated Rotary supporter, he is a member of the Arch C. Klumph Society’s Platinum Trustee Circle, which honors contributions between $2.5 million and $4.99 million. He has previously donated over $3 million to The Rotary Foundation, supporting four key areas: peace and conflict management, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, and polio eradication.
In 2019, his leadership gift of $250,000 played a crucial role in the establishment of Rotary’s first Peace Center in Africa at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. He has also contributed over $4 million towards polio eradication efforts in Nigeria, making him the largest individual donor to this cause on the African continent. Among his numerous contributions, he funded the construction of a 1,600-seat Rotary Hall at the Rotary Centre Complex in Abuja, which was inaugurated on June 20, 2020, at a cost exceeding ₦100 million.
Rotary members globally create and implement sustainable, community-driven projects that combat disease, promote peace, provide clean water, support education, assist mothers and children, stimulate local economies, and protect the environment. Over the past century, The Rotary Foundation has awarded $5.5 billion to facilitate meaningful and impactful service through collaborative efforts.