Lagos — Rotary International yesterday honoured President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua with the Polio Eradication Champion Award for his leadership in support of a polio-free world.

The award, presented by Jonathan Majiyagbe, first African Trustee Chair of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, was established in 1995 to honour heads of state, health agency leaders and others who have made significant contributions toward polio eradication.

"As a Rotarian and resident of Kano , I am honored to present this award to President Yar'Adua, said Majiyagbe. "I thank him for the progress being made in reaching more Nigerian children with the necessary vaccine and look forward to his continued leadership so we can stop this disease forever."

President Yar'Adua has been a strong supporter of polio eradication efforts in Nigeria . Under his leadership, Nigeria announced it would fulfill its N4 billion pledge to support polio immunization rounds. Earlier this year, the first lady personally launched immunization campaigns.

In 2002, President Yar'Adua, then the Executive Governor of Katsina State, Nigeria, played a significant role in polio eradication efforts by commissioning a study on the oral polio vaccine, revealing that the vaccine was safe.

Since then, renewed engagement of political, religious, traditional and community leadership, as well as new initiatives such as quranic school engagement and community dialogues have led to progress in Nigeria .

The proportion of children missed during IPDs has been significantly reduced from more than 50 per cent to 20 per cent in key areas.

Other leaders who have been honored with Rotary's Polio Eradication Champion Award include Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, President Laurent Gbagbo of Cote d'Ivoire, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia, former Prime Minister John Howard of Australia. Others include Prime Minister Helen Clark of New Zealand; former Prime Minister Tony Blair of Great Britain; Alpha Oumar Konare, former chair of the African Union Commission.