Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has donated $.5million (N78million) to the Rotary Club District 9110 Nigeria to fight the polio epidemic in Nigeria.

Atiku made the donation during the "Dinner and Dance Ball" of the club held at the Muson Hall, Marina, Lagos on Saturday, a statement by his media office said yesterday.

The former vice president had earlier made a donation of a quarter of a million US Dollars ($ 250,000) to the Rotary Foundation last year, making him the highest individual Nigerian donor to the causes of the philanthropic club, a statement by Atiku Media office said yesterday.

In making the donation, Atiku called on his Muslim brothers in Northern Nigeria to embrace the on-going 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," Atiku said.

For this huge donation, Atiku received praises and prayers from Engr. 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 Dr. Omotosho called on wealthy Nigerians to emulate the gesture of Atiku by contributing to causes that will benefit the less privileged in our society.