Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s $500,000 donation to the Rotary Club District 9110 Nigeria to fight the polio epidemic ignited a wild jubilation, drum-beating and chants of praise at the well-attended “Dinner and Dance Ball” of the club held at the Muson Hall, Marina, Lagos on Saturday.
Abubakar, who made a donation of $250,000 to the Rotary Foundation the previous year, thereby becoming the highest individual Nigerian donor to the causes of the philanthropic club, upped his act on Saturday night when he announced a further donation of $250,000.
In making the donation, Abubakar called on his Muslim brothers in Northern Nigeria to embrace the ongoing immunisation against the deadly disease, arguing that the religion of Islam was being misrepresented by those opposing vaccination against Polio.
“I hope my brothers and sisters will receive vaccination for their children and understand that it has nothing to do with religion,” Abubakar said.
For this huge donation, Abubakar received praises and prayers from Engineer Joshua Hassan, the Rotary Regional Foundation Coordinator for Africa; former Secretary (Minister) of Health, Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; and the District 9110 Governor, Dr. Kamoru Omotosho.
In his response an elated Omotosho called on wealthy Nigerians to emulate the gesture of Abubakar by contributing to causes that will benefit the less privileged in our society.
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