Sanwo-Olu’s Wife Urges Stronger Immunisation Commitment To End Polio

The wife of Lagos State governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, yesterday, led a passionate call to end polio and strengthen routine immunisation across Lagos, as she flagged off the Walk for Polio in commemoration of World Immunisation Week 2025.

Speaking at the event, themed “Humanly Possible: Saving Lives Through Immunisation,” and organised by the state government in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other development partners, Mrs. Sanwo-Olu called on parents, health workers, community leaders, and policymakers to intensify efforts to ensure that no child is left behind in the fight against vaccine-preventable diseases.

“We are strong advocates for immunisation. We are ready to walk, talk, and do whatever it takes to protect every child in Lagos. We must reach the unreached, find the children who missed out, and protect our future,” she said.

The Lagos first lady urged community mobilisation and active grassroots engagement to debunk vaccine myths and misinformation. She emphasised that her office would continue working with the Ministry of Health to drive awareness and reach underserved areas. She also announced the rollout of the National Immunisation Plus Days (May 3–6, 2025), during which children aged 0 to 59 months will receive two doses of oral polio vaccine free of charge. The campaign, she noted, would provide an opportunity to vaccinate children who missed routine immunisation, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

She reiterated the state’s resolve: “Together, we will end polio, eliminate vaccine-preventable deaths, and build a healthier, safer Lagos. This is our shared responsibility and our collective pledge.”

The wife of the deputy governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, who also addressed the gathering, challenged attendees to become ambassadors for immunisation.

“The awareness is growing, but we must now ask ourselves how to take this message to rural communities and hard-to-reach areas,” she said.

UNICEF’s chief of the Lagos field office, Celine Lafoucriere, delivered a compelling call for renewed commitment to routine immunisation, stressing that despite decades of progress, millions of children remain at risk.

“It’s an honour to walk with all of you today. This World Immunisation Week and our Walk for Polio remind us of how far we’ve come—but also how much further we must go to ensure that every Nigerian child is fully immunised,” Lafoucriere noted.