River blindness to end by 2020, says former US envoy

Delighted by Nigeria’s giant stride against Polio, the former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Howard Jetta, has said attention would now focus on the fight against river blindness, for which the country accounts for 40 per cent of global cases.

Ambassador Jetta said this shortly after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, of which he is a director, and the Katsina State Government for collaboration on education, health, skill acquisition, and youth and women empowerment.

In a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to Katsina State Governor on Media, Abdu Labaran Malumfashi, Ambassador Jetta was quoted as saying that after conquering polio, it was logical to focus on river blindness, which experts have predicted would end by 2020 .

Ambassador Jetta said that the Emeka Offor Foundation made “immense” contribution to the fight against Polio in Nigeria, for which its founder, Sir Emeka Offor, was honoured by Rotary International as its Nigerian Ambassador.

Governor Aminu Bello Masari, who signed the MoU, on behalf of the Katsina State Government lauded the activities of the foundation and called on other wealthy individuals to emulate Sir Emeka Offor.

Masari assured that, “My administration will stick to the letter and spirit of, and leverage on, the MoU in view of the importance it attaches to the four areas covered by the agreement.”

Masari said the state would go to any length without compromise to fulfil its covenant with the citizens in the areas of education, health, agriculture and security, as well as, youth and women empowerment.