Nigeria: Rotary International District 9127 has reaffirmed its commitment to the total eradication of polio in Nigeria, taking its campaign to Abuja’s bustling Wuse Market to raise awareness among traders, young workers, and parents.
The outreach, held on Tuesday 22 October 2025, aimed to engage community members on the importance of immunisation and the wider benefits of eradicating polio for individuals, families, and society.
Dozens of traders and stall owners attended the event, which featured sensitisation talks highlighting the health, social, and economic impact of vaccination.
District Governor Dame Princess Joy Okoro said the market sensitisation formed part of global activities marking World Polio Day, observed annually on October 24.
She explained that although markets may not have eligible children present, they are key hubs for reaching adults who make healthcare decisions.
“We are here to remind everyone that polio is a devastating disease, and its eradication requires collective responsibility.
“Parents and guardians we meet today will take this message home to ensure every child under five is vaccinated,” she said.
Okoro added that Rotary was deliberately targeting young market workers such as wheelbarrow pushers, describing them as future parents who must understand the importance of immunisation early.
“Most of these young men are not yet married, but by educating them now, we’re preparing a generation that will prioritise their children’s health,” she noted.
Expressing optimism about the progress toward global eradication, she said Nigeria and its partners remain on track, with only Afghanistan and Pakistan still recording active cases.
“We started with hundreds of thousands of children at risk, and today we are closer than ever to a polio-free world. We must not give up,” she affirmed.
The week-long campaign, which began with a press briefing on Monday, and continued with sensitisation visits across the six Area Councils of the FCT and ended with a road walk and symbolic vaccination at the Rotary Centre in Abuja.
