Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the commitment of the President Bola Tinubu administration to drive economic growth and transform the nation’s healthcare system.
This is just as the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) has announced a donation of $5 million to the Rotary Foundation to address maternal mortality in Nigeria.
Speaking yesterday during a courtesy visit by the chairman of the Trustees of Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, Mark Daniel Maloney, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Shettima in a statement by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha lauded the significant contributions of Rotary International and other stakeholders to Nigeria’s development.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fully committed to repositioning the Nigerian nation. He is a revolutionary leader who has made far-reaching decisions for the betterment of this country – decisions unmatched in contemporary history,” he said.
The vice president affirmed Nigeria’s readiness for economic resurgence, urging Rotary International to deepen its involvement in combating environmental challenges such as desertification and deforestation through initiatives like the Great Green Wall project.
“We need your support in aggressive environmental regeneration. It’s a win-win for all,” he added.
Shettima also assured of the federal government’s continued investment in education to address
Nigeria’s youthful demographics, noting that education is the ultimate game changer which offers the opportunity for even the most disadvantaged to rise and make an impact.
Earlier, Maloney commended Nigeria’s strides in healthcare, especially the eradication of wild poliovirus, attributing the success to strong government partnerships.
The Rotary Foundation Trustees Chair said, “The Rotary Foundation has funded $34 million in health-related projects in Nigeria over the past year. We were pleased that the last case of wild poliovirus occurred in 2016 and Nigeria along with the continent of Africa was declared wild poliovirus-free.
“Now we are facing the issue of vaccine-derived wild poliovirus. We appreciate the work of the federal government in partnership with Rotary, WHO, UNICEF, and other global organisations for their efforts at combating the new polio variant”.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate, lauded the philanthropic efforts of Rotary International and the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, describing their contributions as life-changing.
Speaking on his foundation’s commitment, Sir Emeka Offor pledged continued support for government healthcare initiatives.
“We want to ensure that the intentions of the present government under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu are actualised. I will stop at nothing in supporting the government in achieving its objective of making health services affordable for all Nigerians and accessible to the innermost part of this country,” he pledged.