Rotary International honours ex-Nestlé MD Osunkeye for polio eradication efforts

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Rotary International has honoured Nigerian philanthropist and corporate statesman, Olusegun Osunkeye, with its highest individual award, the “Service Above Self” recognition, for his decades of contributions to polio eradication and humanitarian service.

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The award was presented during the Rotary District 9111 conference held on Saturday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, in recognition of Osunkeye’s over 50 years of service and his record as the highest single individual donor to the district’s polio eradication initiatives in Nigeria.

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According to a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Sunday, the honour reflects Rotary International’s global push to eradicate polio, anchored on the Polioplus programme launched in 1985 in partnership with organisations such as WHO, UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and other stakeholders under the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

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The statement noted that global efforts have reduced polio cases by more than 99.9 per cent, while Africa was certified free of wild poliovirus in 2020 following sustained vaccination campaigns and surveillance activities, with Nigerian Rotarians playing a frontline role.

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Osunkeye’s contributions were said to have supported immunisation drives, outreach programmes and health infrastructure projects under District 9111, helping to protect “millions of Nigerian children from this debilitating disease,” the statement added.

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Representing Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo, Past District Governor Rotarian Francisco Ssemwanga of Uganda urged African Rotarians to strengthen their global influence while ensuring accountability in service delivery.

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“African Rotarians must continue to push their weight amongst the global community of Rotarians,” Ssemwanga said, adding that members must ensure “donations are followed up rigorously so that their impact becomes sustainable and far-reaching.”

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District Governor Prince Henry Akinyele, who formally presented the award, praised Osunkeye’s long-standing commitment to humanitarian service.

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“Chief Osunkeye’s remarkable strides in service to humanity… are legacies worth celebrating,” Akinyele said, noting that his contributions had strengthened the district’s impact.

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In his acceptance speech, Osunkeye said the honour belonged to all who had supported his journey, stressing that service to humanity remains essential in addressing global challenges.

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“I accept this award, not as a personal achievement but as a recognition of the efforts of those who have journeyed with me,” he said, adding that “service to humanity is no longer optional; it is an important imperative.”

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Osunkeye, a former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Nigeria Plc and past President of the Rotary Club of Ikeja, also holds national honours, including CON and OFR.

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The award, reserved for a select few globally each year, comes as Rotary intensifies efforts to eliminate polio worldwide.

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