Emeka Offor pledges $5m to Rotary’s maternal, child health initiative in Nigeria

Emeka Offor, a Nigerian philanthropist, has pledged $5 million to the Rotary Foundation to bolster its efforts in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in Nigeria.

In a statement on Thursday, Rotary Foundation said the donation by the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) will support and expand its “Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria” initiative.

The organisation said the initiative is aimed at improving access to prenatal care and skilled deliveries in high-need regions of the country.

“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,” the statement reads.

“Recognizing this, the Rotary-led program 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% in maternal deaths and 28% in neonatal deaths.

“The $5 million gift from the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation reflects these early successes and will help expand the program’s reach.”

Offor, who is also a Rotary member, noted that “helping mothers and babies survive and thrive is among the greatest investments we can make in Nigeria’s future”.

“We have seen a unique opportunity to build upon a Rotary-led program 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,” he said.

Mark Maloney, chair of the trustees of the Rotary Foundation, said Offor’s contribution “comes at a critical time in our member’s efforts to improve maternal and child health in Nigeria”.

“We deeply appreciate Sir Emeka’s partnership and his strong belief in Rotary’s ability to reach even more communities and create lasting change for the health and wellbeing of families for generations to come,” Maloney added.

The “Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria”program was launched by Rotary members in Nigeria and Germany, in collaboration with the Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health (RMCH), federal ministry of health, and leading health associations.

In 2022, the project received a $2 million Programs of Scale grant from The Rotary Foundation to expand successful, evidence-based interventions.

Offor, chairman of the Chrome Group, is one of Africa’s leading private donors to humanitarian causes.

His support spans key areas including maternal and child health, basic education, peacebuilding, and polio eradication.