In line with the drive to make Nigeria polio free and Rotary International’s mandate to make polio the second epidemic disease to be completely eradicated after small pox, Rotary International District 9110, Nigeria, under the leadership of the District Governor, Rotarian Dr. Wale Ogunbadejo is set to hold a fundraising event with the theme: “An Evening with the DG.”
Rotary International, a body which comprises business men and women around the world, offering selfless service to humanity, continues her fight to completely eradicate polio despite the massive achievement of 99.9% reduction in cases of polio and a drastic fall from about 350, 000 cases to just 37 cases in 2016.
At the Rotary International Convention held in June, 2017 in Atlanta, it was revealed that in 2016, the world recorded few cases of polio in only three countries which includes Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Nigeria. Nigeria recorded 4 cases of polio virus in Borno State, and this was a major blow to the country which as this was a resurgence of the polio virus after a two-year absence.
“An evening with the DG”, is the first public fund-raising event to be carried out by the District in this 2017/2018 Rotary year but it will precede subsequent events that will be dedicated to polio eradication. The District will also look at other ways of raising funds towards the eradication of polio and they will be unfolded as the year rolls on.
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“An Evening with the DG” holds on Friday, September 29, at the District office located at 8 Ladoke Akintola Street, G.R.A, Ikeja in Lagos State. The event is scheduled to commence at 3.00 pm prompt and is open to both members and non members of the Rotary Club.
The fight against the polio virus and the effort of Rotary Club towards completely eradicating the polio virus is not new. Various Rotary Clubs under the Rotary International District 9110, Nigeria have carried out several fund-raising activities towards the eradication of polio in Nigeria in the past and some other fund-raising and public awareness activities are currently ongoing.
The District Secretary, Rotarian Segun Adewakun, announced that the event which is aimed at raising funds towards the cause of eradicating the polio virus, will also serve as a platform for the Rotary International District 9110, Nigeria to be a benefactor of the Bill and Melinda Gates “World’s Greatest Meal” Initiative, which focuses on doubling any amount generated by clubs towards polio eradication.
Rotarian Adewakun explained that various Rotary clubs have their owned designated ways and strategies of raising funds for this great cause. Among this strategies include that of Rotary Club of Maryland where the club members in partnership with the Ikeja Airport authorities, positioned First Aid boxes at strategic places around the Airport in which people can drop their contributions towards the eradication of the polio virus.
“Each club is expected to raise $1500 for the next three years. As at today, the responses from the clubs are not so bad. I know that clubs are responding. What the District is doing right now is to raise the bar. We expect that Rotarians and even non-Rotarians will be able to understand the need to make the world a polio-free world and get our country out of this”
Some clubs’ strategy involve going on road walks wearing T-shirts with polio eradication campaigns; trying to create public awareness and encouraging people to donate. Some other clubs dedicate a certain percentage of the total amount raised at their meetings to the eradication of polio in Nigeria through the Rotary polio foundation, the District Secretary further reveals.
“Each club is expected to raise $1500 for the next three years. As at today, the responses from the clubs are not so bad. I know that clubs are responding. What the District is doing right now is to raise the bar. We expect that Rotarians and even non-Rotarians will be able to understand the need to make the world a polio-free world and get our country out of this”, Rotarian Adewakun said.
“As a person; in life, some things must drive you. Whether you are a Rotarian or not, you will see that there is emptiness in you if you do not give to humanity. When we give to the cause of polio, we are not doing it for any self-praise.
“When you are fully committed to a cause like this, be sure that posterity will judge you right. I strongly believe in the saying: What you sow, you will reap”, Rotarian Adewakun added, while urging members and non members alike to commit to the cause of eradicating polio virus.