Ohanaeze Honours Emeka Offor Over Polio Eradication, Humanitarian Services in Nigeria

By Olisemeka Sony

Apex Igbo Socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Anambra State Chapter, has honoured the Founder, Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF), and Chairman, Chrome Group, Sir (Dr.) Emeka Offor for his immense contributions towards polio eradication in Nigeria.

The group also presented him with an Award for his numerous humanitarian service to the society.

The Award presentation took place over the weekend, at Awka, Anambra State, during the 2022 Igbo Day celebration, a day the Group set aside to appreciate and recognize well-meaning sons and daughters of Anambra State, who have impacted humanity and distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour.

Receiving the Award on behalf of Offor, the Coordinator, Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, Hon. Sir Tony Obi, thanked the organizers of the event for the recognition, saying that the eradication of Polio is a cause Sir Offor so much believed in, to the extent that he became the highest single donor to Rotary International towards the complete eradication of Polio within the African Continent – a feat that earned him “The Polio Ambassador”.

Hon. Obi used the opportunity to highlight some of the philanthropic interventions Sir Emeka Offor has executed through his Foundation, especially around health, education, and human capital development.

According to him, about 80 Universities, 22 Polytechnics, 37 Colleges of Education, and 180 Primary & Secondary Schools have benefited from the Book Distribution initiative of Sir Emeka Offor Foundation; where textbooks, computers, and other educational materials were distributed to schools.

He also affirmed that the Foundation has awarded scholarships to over 150 primary school pupils, 200 secondary school students, 300 undergraduates/Graduates, and over 400 students in vocational and skill acquisition programmes.

At the National Orthopedic Hospital Enugu, Sir Offor singlehandedly constructed a 25-room Amenity Ward and equally imported and distributed fourteen 40-footer containers of medical equipment and supplies to designate Federal, State, and Special Hospitals and Health Institutions across the country.

Through his Foundation, Sir Offor established a Widows’ Cooperative Society to empower widows and enable them to remain largely independent.

“Today, the Cooperative has now grown to the point that they now lend money to empower others”, he said.