The Rotary International Foundation has announced a $2 million investment aimed at improving maternal and child healthcare in Nigeria, reinforcing its commitment to global humanitarian efforts and building on its success in polio eradication.
This was disclosed during a press briefing by Victor Onukwugha, Past District Governor and Chairman of the Trustee Chair’s Visit to Nigeria Committee, who highlighted the significance of the ongoing initiatives. Onukwugha revealed that Mark D. Maloney, Rotary International Foundation Trustee Chair, is scheduled to visit Nigeria from January 15 to 20, 2025, to assess the impact of Rotary’s contributions and explore opportunities for future partnerships.
The $2 million funding, provided under the Programme of Scale, is dedicated to maternal and child healthcare, an area of pressing need in the country. Onukwugha explained that the Programme of Scale is one of four grant types offered by the Rotary Foundation, alongside District Grants, Global Grants, and the Disaster Fund. “These grants are the tools through which Rotary continues to make a global impact,” he said.
Nigeria stands out as one of only three countries to benefit from the Programme of Scale, underscoring the nation’s strategic importance in Rotary’s global outreach. According to Onukwugha, the fund’s deployment will be closely monitored during Maloney’s visit, as Rotary plans to ensure optimal utilization to foster long-term health benefits.
President Bola Tinubu is expected to host Maloney and his spouse, Gay, during their stay in Nigeria. Additionally, Maloney will hold a town hall meeting with Rotarians and non-Rotarians in Abuja and oversee a symbolic polio immunization exercise. This activity is a tribute to Nigeria’s remarkable milestone in eradicating polio, a feat achieved in 2020 after years of relentless efforts by Rotary and other partners.
Highlighting Rotary’s contributions to the polio eradication campaign, Onukwugha stated, “Through donations from Nigerians and supporters in over 200 countries, Rotary helped Nigeria transition from being the country with the highest polio cases to being polio-free since 2020.” He also noted that the Nigeria Polio Plus Committee recently donated $14 million to sustain the country’s polio eradication achievements.
Onukwugha further lauded Rotary’s historical impact, recounting how the Rotary International Foundation, established in 1917, has grown from a modest $26.05 endowment to over $2 billion. “The foundation has become the engine for Rotary’s humanitarian work globally,” he said.
Maloney’s visit will also extend to Lagos, where he will engage stakeholders and Rotarians to deepen the foundation’s impact in Nigeria. Rotary, founded in 1905, continues to uphold its mission of fostering fellowship and addressing global challenges, with Nigeria remaining a significant beneficiary of its initiatives.
This marks a pivotal moment for the Rotary Foundation’s engagement with Nigeria, and stakeholders are optimistic about the far-reaching benefits of this renewed partnership.
