Victoria Nneji, a four-time Paralympic medalist, shared her inspiring life journey at the launch of UNICEF’s “No More Zero Dose” song in Lagos, commemorating World Polio Day.
Though born healthy, Victoria contracted polio meningitis as a toddler, leaving her with a disability that dramatically changed her life path.
Despite the struggles of rejection and delayed education, she found hope and purpose in sports, ultimately earning national recognition and an MON honor for her achievements.
The “No More Zero Dose” campaign aims to ensure that no African child misses essential vaccinations. The song, released by UNICEF, features 12 music and film icons from West and Central Africa, including Cobhams, Kate Henshaw, Timi Dakolo, and WAJE, who together call for universal immunization.
The celebrities’ participation highlights the importance of reaching unvaccinated children, especially in a region with the world’s lowest immunization rates.
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UNICEF’s Regional Director, Gilles Fagninou, emphasized the urgency, noting that West and Central Africa have seen declines in DTP3 vaccine coverage and increases in vaccine-preventable diseases, including polio.
Nigeria alone recorded nearly half of Africa’s 138 polio cases this year. UNICEF Nigeria’s Country Representative, Cristian Munduate, pointed to music’s power in spreading the campaign message and urged collaboration across all sectors for greater reach.
The event was attended by top government officials, including representatives of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and First Lady Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, who stressed the need for grassroots efforts to eliminate polio entirely from the continent.