Don’t Stop Giving To End Polio, Governor Tells Rotarians

The District Governor of Rotary International District 9127, Engr. Sikiru Adetona Owonikoko, has urged Rotarians not to relent in their financial contributions towards eradicating polio, saying their donations were making a significant impact.

Owonikoko said sustained funding, public sensitisation and immunisation were essential to protecting millions of children worldwide from the disease.

He made the appeal in Abuja on Friday after a walk to commemorate the 2026 World Polio Day, stressing that the eradication of polio remained non-negotiable.

He commended the Federal Government and Rotary International’s partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), for their collaboration in reaching communities across the country with immunisation services.

“This is not just the beginning, and it will not be the end until every child in the world is saved,” he said.

Owonikoko said Rotary International had invested substantial resources in the fight against polio since 1985, adding that the organisation remained committed to ensuring that no child was left unprotected.

He thanked the Federal Ministry of Health for supporting immunisation efforts through primary healthcare centres, which he said had helped partners reach communities across the country.

The district governor also expressed appreciation to Rotarians, Rotaractors, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, WHO, UNICEF, NPHCDA and other partners for their contributions to the campaign.

Addressing Rotarians, he said their donations to The Rotary Foundation were producing results and urged them to sustain the support until the global eradication goal was achieved.

“To Rotarians, all your givings to The Rotary Foundation are making impact. Not only today, you have been giving since we signed the agreement to ensure children are saved.

“I want to plead with you, we should not be tired, the donations should continue, the sensitisation must not stop, the eradication is a must for us and we have to keep polio at zero as we promised,” he said.

Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of the Nigerian National PolioPlus Committee (NNPPC), Dr. Kazeem Mustapha, said Rotary International was sustaining its EndPolioNow campaign to protect children across the world.

Mustapha, a past district governor, described immunisation as a key preventive measure against polio and other diseases, emphasising the importance of vaccination in safeguarding children’s health.

In her remarks, the District Polio Committee Chair, Mrs. Mariam Abdullahi, expressed optimism that a polio-free world was achievable if stakeholders sustained their commitment to immunisation and public awareness.

“Today, on World Polio Day, we stand together to reaffirm one promise: we will not rest until every child is protected and our world is polio-free,” she said.

Abdullahi urged Rotary clubs in District 9127 to participate actively in the campaign by organising immunisation drives, raising awareness in their communities and contributing resources towards the eradication effort.

She also commended partners and volunteers for their commitment, noting that they continued to work under challenging conditions to ensure that no child was missed during immunisation exercises.

“Polio has no place in our future, and your action is what will push it into history,” she said.