The Gates Foundation said that Nigeria’s 36 Executive Governors and the Federal Capital Territory have signed up to the Nigeria Immunization Challenge launched by the foundation last year. Gates Foundation CEO Jeff Raikes said, “Renewed political resolve and accountability are critical to stopping polio in Nigeria and we find it encouraging to witness both through the support expressed by every Executive Governor across the country for this initiative. By collectively signing up to this challenge, they are sending a very clear message about their commitment to lead the fight to eliminate polio in Nigeria.” The Nigeria Immunization Challenge “sets specific objectives that need to be met during each quarter of 2012. If met, Nigeria will significantly improve its chances of stopping polio and protecting more children against vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough…The Nigerian states that meet all the necessary threshold criteria by the end of 2012 will be awarded a $500,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support their top health priorities.” The foundation announcement noted that as of December 30, 2011, 51 cases of wild poliovirus had been reported in eight Nigerian states, compared with 21 cases in 2010. http://www.gatesfoundation.org/press-releases/Pages/immunization-leadership-challenge-120105.aspx