Abuja: Rotary International leaders have reaffirmed their commitment to eradicating polio globally and preventing its resurgence in Abuja as they mark the 2025 World Polio Day. District Governor of Rotary International District 9112, Lanre Adedoyin, gave the assurance during a nationwide immunisation exercise hosted by District 9127 in Abuja on Thursday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the 2025 World Polio Day theme is 'Finishing the Job: Our Legacy for a Polio-Free World.' Adedoyin, while speaking at the immunisation centre at the Primary Health Care Centre, Lugbe, Abuja, said the exercise formed part of 'Rotary's End Polio Now' campaign. He said that Rotary Club had doubled its efforts to prevent resurgence of polio in the Federal Capital Territory after it was certified polio free in 2020. The initiative, which brought together all six District Governors from across the nation, aimed at sustaining the nation's polio-free status and strengthening global efforts to eradicate the disease.
He noted that although Nigeria was certified polio-free in 2020, Rotary continues to engage communities to prevent resurgence. 'We are people of action, and our determination is to ensure polio is stamped out not just in Nigeria but from the surface of the earth,' he said. He mentioned that Rotary Club had been in the forefront of eradicating polio, which was a life-threatening disease caused by the polio virus. 'We have embarked on this for over three decades because we understand that this virus is very deadly. We as Rotarians have taken it upon ourselves to make sure that polio is eradicated worldwide. In Nigeria, we have been able to keep polio at zero, but we understand that it is a threat if it is still endemic in some parts of the world.'
He commended the National PolioPlus Committee, led by past District Governors Joshua Hassan, Toji Funsho, and Grace Okaru, for their sustained advocacy and support. He added that Rotary's strength lies in collaboration and continuous action, pledging that the organization would not relent until the world is completely free of polio.
Also speaking, the Polio Celebration Chair, Tunde Odunlami, said the commemoration underscored Rotary's long-standing commitment to protecting children from preventable diseases. He said the immunisation drive was held simultaneously across several locations in the Federal Capital Territory, with hundreds of children vaccinated and mothers sensitised on routine immunisation.
A beneficiary, Mrs. Grace Anyanwu, thanked Rotary International for bringing the outreach to her community. She said the enlightenment and free vaccination had helped mothers appreciate the importance of protecting their children from poliomyelitis. 'I'm very happy that Rotary came to Lugbe to educate us and vaccinated our children. Every child deserves to live free from this disease,' she said.