After first recognizing only the richest Nigerian on Time list of 100 most influential people in 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday finally congratulated Dr. Tunji Funsho, champion of polio eradication in Nigeria.
There were four Nigerians in the TIME 100 most influential people in the world in 2020. But the Nigerian leader issued a statement early this week, congratulating only the richest amongst them: Mr Tony Elumelu, economist, entrepreneur, philanthropist, Chairman, Heirs Holdings, United Bank of Africa, and Founder, The Tony Elumelu Foundation. Other Nigerians included Giannis Antetokounmpo (a Greek rendition of Adetokunbo) a star basketball player born to Nigerian parents; and Tomi Adeyemi, bestselling Nigerian-American novelist and creative writing coach.
Buhari said he is delighted that among four Nigerians listed in 2020 TIME 100, is Dr Abdulrahman Tunji Funsho, Chairman of The Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee of Rotary International.
The President expressed joy that Dr Funsho, a distinguished cardiologist, and former District Governor of Rotary International, came up for global recognition, saying it is an attestation to “the good work you did for Nigeria and Africa, in getting us to be free from wild polio virus.”
President Buhari said he believes that the recognition by TIME is just one of the many accolades that will come Dr Funsho’s way, “having fought a yeoman’s battle to rid Nigeria and Africa of polio, which once disabled 75,000 African children every single year.”
