This extraordinary commitment from the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation comes at a critical time in Rotary members’ efforts to improve maternal and child health in Nigeria
Emeka Offor Pledges $5 Million to Boost Rotary’s Maternal and Child Health Efforts in Nigeria
EVANSTON, Ill., USA (April 10, 2025) — Sir Emeka Offor, a prominent Nigerian philanthropist and Rotary member, has pledged $5 million through his Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) to The Rotary Foundation.
This generous contribution will enhance a vital initiative focused on lowering maternal and newborn death rates in Nigeria’s most underserved regions.
“Supporting the survival and wellbeing of mothers and their babies is one of the most impactful ways to secure Nigeria’s future,” said Sir Emeka Offor, SEOF founder and a member of the Rotary Club of Oraifite in District 9142, Nigeria. “By building on Rotary’s existing program, we have a chance to make significant strides against maternal and child mortality. This collaboration is a major leap toward improving family health nationwide.”
Nigeria faces some of the world’s highest maternal and neonatal mortality rates. Expanding access to prenatal care and ensuring skilled childbirth in well-equipped facilities have proven effective in tackling this challenge. The Rotary-led initiative, already underway, trains healthcare providers, improves clinic infrastructure, involves local communities, and enhances health data management.
After two years, participating facilities in four key regions have seen more women attending prenatal visits, alongside a 20% drop in maternal deaths and a 28% reduction in newborn mortality. Sir Emeka Offor’s $5 million donation builds on these promising results, enabling the program to reach even more communities.
“This extraordinary commitment from the Sir 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. “We deeply appreciate Sir Emeka’s partnership and his strong belief in Rotary’s ability to reach even more communities and create lasting change for the health and wellbeing of families for generations to come.”
Rotary’s ‘Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria’ program was first launched by Rotary members in Nigeria and Germany, in partnership with the Rotary Action Group for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health (RMCH), the Federal Ministry of Health, and leading professional health associations.
In 2022, it was the second program to receive a Programs of Scale grant from The Rotary Foundation, an annual competitive process that awards $2 million to an evidence-based initiative driven by Rotary members with the capability for scaling up to help more people.
Sir Emeka Offor is chairman of the Chrome Group, a Nigerian-based conglomerate with interests spanning oil and gas, insurance and finance, power and energy, telecommunications, logistics and port management, and travel and hospitality.
A long-time Rotary member and supporter, he is part of the Arch C. Klumph Society’s Platinum Trustee Circle, which recognizes contributions between US$2.5 million and US$4.99 million. He has donated over US$3 million to The Rotary Foundation, supporting four of Rotary’s key areas of focus: peace and conflict management, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, and polio eradication.
In 2019, his leadership gift of US$250,000 helped inspire the creation of Rotary’s first Peace Center in Africa, located at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. He has also contributed more than US$4 million to polio eradication efforts in Nigeria, making him the largest individual donor to this cause on the African continent. Among his many contributions, he funded the construction of a 1,600-seat Rotary Hall at the Rotary Centre Complex in Abuja, unveiled on 20 June 2020, at a cost exceeding ₦100 million.
Rotary members throughout the world develop and implement sustainable, community-driven projects that fight disease, promote peace, provide clean water, support education, help mothers and children, grow local economies and protect the environment. Over the last 100 years, US $5.5 billion has been awarded through The Rotary Foundation – Rotary’s charitable arm that helps clubs work together to perform meaningful, impactful service.
What to know about the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation: The Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) is a charitable, non-governmental organization committed to promoting human capacity development and economic empowerment in Nigeria. Through initiatives in education, health, youth empowerment, and widows’ support, SEOF seeks to alleviate suffering and enable self-reliance among underserved populations. The Foundation has partnered with global organizations including Rotary International and Books for Africa to expand its impact. Learn more at sireofforfoundation.org. Read More
