Rotary International: Nigerian business leader Sir Emeka Offor becomes Rotary’s largest African donor
The following is a news release issued by Rotary International:
EVANSTON, Ill., USA (March 11, 2013) – Sir Emeka Offor, a prominent Nigerian business leader and philanthropist, has contributed a combined total of more than US$1 million to Rotary International in support of the humanitarian organization’s global programs. His gifts make him the largest contributor from Africa in Rotary’s 108 year history.
In February 2013, Sir Offor contributed $250,000 in support of Rotary initiatives to enhance child and maternal health and another $250,000 for education and literacy projects. In 2012, he contributed a total of $500,000 to the Rotary Peace Centers and to support Rotary’s polio eradication initiative. Sir Offor also support’s Rotary’s Annual Fund and gives significant sums to local Rotary projects in Nigeria.
"God has been exceedingly good to me, and I must give back, as much and as often as I can,” said Sir Offor, who is Executive Vice Chairman of the Chrome Group, an Abuja-based oil and gas service conglomerate. He also heads the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, which focuses on poverty alleviation through literacy and education programs in West Africa’s poorest communities.
“When I studied the programs and activities of Rotary, I realized that Rotary was doing those things that I too want to do,” added Offor, a member of the Rotary Club of Awka G.R. A.
“I want to see mothers bring up healthy and happy children; I want to see children learn to read and to use that literacy to get a good education and improve their lives; I want to see scourges like polio eradicated during my lifetime; and I want to see peace reign throughout the world, one community and one village at a time. These are the reasons that motivated me to give these gifts to Rotary, and these are the reasons why I will continue to help those in need and less fortunate than I.”
In October 2012, Offor contributed $250,000 in support of Rotary’s peace and conflict resolution studies. The gift will provide support for students from Nigeria and Africa who attend the Rotary Peace Center at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. The Center offers a three-month professional development certificate in peace and conflict studies to approximately fifty peace fellows annually. Five additional Rotary Peace Centers throughout the world offer master’s degree programs.
In celebration of World Polio day on October 24, Sir Offor set an example for others in Nigeria’s private sector with his $250,000 gift to Rotary’s PolioPlus program, which provides funding for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). Nigeria is one of the three remaining polio-endemic countries, along with Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Rotary International will honor Sir Emeka Offor for his contributions at a 30 October 2013 celebration at its international headquarters in Evanston, Ill., USA.
“Rotary is fortunate to count Sir Emeka Offor as a generous donor to Rotary’s highest priorities,” stated Wilfrid J. Wilkinson, trustee chair of The Rotary Foundation. “We look forward to honoring him publically for his generosity at Rotary’s first Nigeria Day celebration in Evanston.”
Rotary is a global humanitarian organization with more than 1.2 million members in 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Rotary members are men and women who are business, professional, and community leaders with a shared commitment to make the world a better place through humanitarian service. For more information please visit Rotary’s Media Center.
CONTACT: Stéphanie Tobler Mucznik, +41 44-387-7116, [email protected] or Wayne Hearn, 847.866.3386, [email protected].
