Nigerian Rotary member and philanthropist, Emeka Offor, has committed $5 million through the Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) to The Rotary Foundation to expand and strengthen its initiative aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in high-need areas of Nigeria.
   
“Helping mothers and babies survive and thrive is among the greatest investments we can make in Nigeria’s future,” said Emeka Offor, founder of the SEOF and a member of the Rotary Club of Oraifite, District 9142, Nigeria. 
  
“We have seen a unique opportunity to build a Rotary-led programme to further turn the tide on maternal and child mortality by working together. This partnership marks a powerful step forward for the health and well-being of families across Nigeria.”
  
Nigeria has some of the highest maternal and newborn mortality rates in the world. Improving access to prenatal care and skilled deliveries in equipped facilities has been shown to reduce this burden. 
  
Recognising this, the Rotary-led programme trains health workers, upgrades clinics, engages communities and strengthens health data systems. Two years into implementation, supported facilities in four target regions have reported increased antenatal visits and reductions of 20 per cent in maternal deaths and 28 per cent in neonatal deaths.   

The $5 million gift from the Emeka Offor Foundation reflects these early successes and will help expand the programme’s reach.
  
“This extraordinary commitment from the Emeka Offor Foundation comes at a critical time in our member’s efforts to improve maternal and child health in Nigeria,” said Mark Maloney, Chair of the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation.