The Rotary Club of Ikeja, District 9110 Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to humanity and called on Nigerians to support the club.
The group stated this when it installed a new President for the 2022/ 2023 Rotary Year, Rotarian Sola Akinsiku, who was installed as the 55th president at an event in Lagos on Sunday.
In his speech just before handing over to the new president, the 54th president for the 2021/2022 Rotary Year, Rotarian Gbenga Badejo noted that the slogan for the last rotary year was ‘Serve to Change Lives’, saying that every activity that was embarked on in the year focused on changing lives.
Badejo said, “As everyone is aware Rotary is an organisation that is dedicated to doing good, helping humanities, serving humanity. Therefore, we did a lot of projects that are life-changing and which cut across all the areas of focus of Rotary.
“From the retinue of what we did showed, our theme which is to change lives, and it showed in whatever we did, I can say that last year was really successful.
“To the new president, the Immediate Past President said his task is already listed out because as we are all aware Rotary has a pedigree and we have a tradition.
“My message to him is to remain steadfast, keep his eyes on the ball, we have seven areas of focus highlighted by Rotary International, he should just be focused on it.
“In Rotary it is very difficult to fail because there are guidelines, there are steps, there are procedures, what he needs is to keep his eyes on the ball.”
In his speech after his installation, Rotarian Sola Akinsiku, the new president said the year is going to be full of activities, full of the usual execution of projects in all seven focus areas of Rotary and “we are going to execute projects in all.”
The projects which cut across the seven areas of focus according to him will include, Vocational empowerment tools for the Ikorodu community; vocational empowerment for graduates of NAFOWA vocational and ICT centre Ikeja; Micro Credit scheme to Isolo Men and Women; Construction of Multipurpose Sports facility at Ikeja Junior High School Ikeja; donation of physical and health education sporting equipment to Ikeja Junior High School Ikeja; renovation and equipping of the computer laboratory at Olusosun Primary school.
Others are: Train the trainers- LASG/Olusosun primary school teachers; equipping of Home Economics Laboratory at Opebi Junior Grammar School; visit orphans at Modupe Cole Memorial Home Akoka; free breast cancer and prostate screening and treatment; Christmas party and donations to SOS village Isolo; LASUTH Christmas visitation, donations and awards to outstanding LASUTH staff and vocational seminar for students and interactors of Ikeja Junior High School.
The president also stated that the proposed projects would include: Lagos State Technical College and kingdom Walkers Ilupeju; seminar on peace, conflict prevention and resolution; visit to IDP camp at Igando; donation of sanitation instrument and materials to IPODO market; tree planting campaign at Ikeja Junior High School Ikeja; rehabilitation of borehole and water treatment plants at Olusosun Primary Scholl; organising of inter-school quiz and essay competition and renovations and equipping of the sick bay at Olusosun Primary School.
He thanked the guests and other Rotarians for their support especially those who have supported the fundraising which he said would help in the smooth running of all the projects in the new Rotary year.
Other highlights of the events aside from the investiture of the new president and board of directors include fundraising for the execution of projects in the Rotary year as well as the awards to some eminent Nigerians who made impacts on society through what they have been doing in private and public sectors, their record and what the club know they can also do to help the society.
Among the dignitaries at the event include Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the Special Guest of honour, represented by the Deputy Governor Orimisan Aiyedatiwa; The Doyen of Rotary and Former Minister for Health, Rotarian Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; the advertising guru, Dr Biodun Shobanjo.
