DISTRICT GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE FOR JANUARY

 

May I use this medium once again to welcome you all to a brand new and prosperous year 2024, while looking forward to a fulfilled second half of our Rotary year.

 

I sincerely thank each and every one of you for our collective achievements as a District during the first half of the Rotary year. These achievements could not have been possible without your dedication and support irrespective of all odds.

 

January marks the beginning of the second half of the Rotary year which is the month dedicated to Vocational Service, and I am looking forward to more support as we navigate towards the end of the Rotary year.

 

Our focus for this month therefore will be on:

 

 

Rotarians and Rotary Clubs are encouraged to be involved in discussions on vocational service that can lead to projects that not only develop the ethical consciousness and vocational skills of Rotarians but also the talents within their communities.

Overall, we must all exemplify good ethical behaviour in our daily activities.

 

It is important for us to remember the 4-Way Test and our Core Values in all our activities, and this can be achieved by being deliberate in our actions towards fellow human beings etc

 

By December we had visited a total of 82 Clubs and hope to commence on my visit to the remaining Clubs in earnest so much that, I would have completed my visits in good time. I thank all the Clubs visited till date for the level of energies put into the plans for the visits and the kind of receptions accorded me and my team members.

 

As Rotarians, our can-do spirit is just over whelming , for instance ,during my visit to one of the clubs , NEPA took light and the generator could not come up, yet, we still continued our meeting with our phone lights. Lol

 

Our Rotarians and Clubs during the month of December engaged in so many activities to celebrate our families and friends, and there were exchange of gifts to show the yuletide season, putting smiles on the faces of the less privileged and creating Hope in the World. The highlight of these activities by our clubs in the district were the visits to in-patients ( adults and Children ) of so many hospitals by our Rotarians .

Myself , my President and members of RC Ikoyi Metro also visited the General hospital Odan , Broad street , Lagos on Christmas day 25^th December to share gifts to the patients and celebrate Christmas with them , these visits no doubt, uplifted the spirits of these inpatients. We wish them quick recoveries so that they can be united with their families as quickly as possible. Thank you, Rotarians, for all we do for Humanity.

 

 

 

Apart from the reports of inductions being carried out by Clubs, I equally had the privilege of personally inducting so many quality members into Rotary, but I noticed that all the Clubs held behind from deleting their inactive members last Rotary year due to our plea for our Districting efforts not to be thwarted are deleting massively this Rotary year, hence all our efforts in growing our District membership status this year looks like an effort in Futility.

 

As reported by Clubs in the Rotary Club Central we had a net gain of 28 members as at end of December, further depleting our NET GAIN OF 119 MEMBERS AS AT END OF NOVEMBER . This low net gain is due to an upsurge in deletions by clubs. I wish to plead with our clubs to tarry on further deletions to enable us to complete the Districting proper by 30^th June with good membership status.it will not be good for our District to have zero growth or go into negative position by 30^th June .

In the same vein, I wish to remind our Club Presidents to report and update their membership status with Rotary Club central as soon as induction ceremonies are concluded.

I still have no doubt that we shall deliver on the 20% minimum membership growth for the Rotary year if only we can stop or reduce these massive deletions.

 

 

In what could be described as a perfect Christmas gift to the District, the Charter of 2(two) new clubs was announced by RI. These Clubs are:

 

 

Both Clubs were sponsored by Rotary Club of Gowon Estate and further announcement on their formation will come up within the week.

 

I am equally happy to report that within the first 6 months of this Rotary year , the following new clubs were chartered for Rotaract and Interact.

 

 

Rotaract Club of Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology with 16 members.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I wish to appreciate Rotarians for your generous contributions to The Rotary Foundation in the first six (6) months of the Hope year. However, let your donations keep rolling in as we are still far behind our Goals for the Foundation. May I also use this medium to thank members who have donated and fulfilled their pledges, while pleading with those who are yet to fulfil their pledges made during the DG visit to please take advantage of the RI rates to redeem the pledges.

 

As at the end of December, our contribution to the Foundation for Polio is $44,635.95 while our total contribution to the Foundation is $256,492.57.

 

For Clubs yet to be visited, please do not wait until my visit to your Clubs before donating generously to our Rotary Foundation. Club Presidents should please pay up the 10-dollar challenge for all its members and the 1500 dollars as a Club to the Foundation. Please also encourage your members to donate for Polio Plus Society and PHFs, including Promises of Major Donors / AKS accordingly.

My prayers for your continuous upliftment and financial blessings will be manifested abundantly this year by his Grace .

 

 

The third in the series of the planned DG Speaks for this Rotary year was held on Monday, 4^th December 2023 and it was a huge success, with the highest record of over 500 Rotarians in attendance and District Leaders joining to listen, interacting with the DG and asking relevant questions as it affects their Clubs.

Let me thank the District Public Image Committee chaired by ARPIC/DPIC Michael Effiong for their wonderful work and commitment. I wish to particularly appreciate, Rotarian Temitayo Ayorinde of the Rotary Club of Lekki Golden for anchoring the event.

 

The first edition this New Year which will be the fourth in the series will hold on Monday, 8^th January 2024. The Committee will provide further information on the virtual meeting.

 

Once again, let me congratulate all our Club Presidents and their members for the overwhelming publicity drive being undertaken at all levels. Our stories are all over the social media space, print media, Radio and Television stations.

 

Please do not relent on your efforts, LET’S KEEP TELLING OUR COMPELLING STORIES AT ALL TIMES.

 

Again, I can say that I am very proud of you all and Love you Loads!!

 

 

The 2023 Rotary Family Funfair was held from 8^th – 10^th December 2023 at the Crown City Park Resort, Agbara. It was indeed a family get-together with a difference. More than Forty (40) Clubs were represented with their families and guests and they were entertained with all side-attractions. The children were not left out and for the first time the youths had their time and sessions on leadership trainings, it was all fun, it was a real funfair.

 

The height of all the events was the Novelty football match played by the male against the female Rotarians with me as the captain, and of course the women won the match victoriously. (Kindly don’t ask me how).

 

I appreciate the Committee chaired by PP Laurine Ubanozie and all the members for a good outing at Agbara. In the same vein, I thank all Rotarians for turning out in large numbers and for their generous support towards the success of the event.

 

 

The Christmas Carol for children – Rotakids (ages 7-12) was held on Wednesday, 13^th December 2023 at the Rotary Centre. There were wonderful presentations of Christmas carol and plays by the children with smiles on their faces. They were able to make friends among themselves and also catch some fun.

For the first time in the history of our District , I played Santa Claus (AS DG ) dancing and playing with the kids and also handed over gifts to all the Children present. It was a day to behold and all the children and Rotarians present had fun and were happy , celebrating with food and drinks for Christmas .

The Children also visited the Babs El Salaam Orphanage Home at Joel Ogunnaike, Ikeja-GRA after the event to present some gift thereby teaching them the spirit of sharing and giving at tender age. Let me thank the Rotakids Committee chaired by PP Fatimah Hassan and her members for putting together the colourful events.

 

 

I decided to have a Christmas party with my Core Team, and all the staff of the District as well as the security men and Drivers, to celebrate Christmas and to appreciate all of them for their support individually and collectively towards the success of the first half of the Rotary year, while encouraging them not to relent in their efforts to deliver success for the remaining Rotary year.

 

It was fun and there was a dancing competition among the female staff and Ms Blessing Okere emerged as the best dancer, she alongside the first and second runner-up and all those that participated in the dance competition were all rewarded.

 

We also distributed bags of Rice that was shared by all of them to take home, for Christmas celebrations with their families.

 

This event was the first of its kind in our District.

 

 

PRE-RYLA was held on the 14^{th of} December 2023 at the Rotary Centre and over 500 participants were in attendance.

 

The Rotary Youth Leadership Academy will run between 6^th and 14^th January, 2024 at NYSC Camp, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos.

 

The 6^th is slated for the arrival of all the Participants, Club Presidents should arrange for early arrivals of their sponsored candidates. The theme for this year’s RYLA is ‘“Our Youth, Our Hope”.   Over 800 youths will be attending the academy to learn about leadership, citizenship, vocational activities amongst other activities.

 

The Chairman of RYLA, AG Tolulope Onalaja (AKS) and her Team have assured us that RYLA 2023 would create a wholesome experience for the participants and other stakeholders like never before.  May I use this opportunity to request our leaders to join the Committee to show our youths how to be great people in life.

 

We are all invited to the Opening Ceremony on the 7^th of January and the Closing Ceremony on the 14^th of January accordingly.

 

 

As promised during my last DG Speaks outing, a remedial Rotary Foundation GRANT Seminar was held on 14^th December 2023 just to encourage members who were not able to qualify for grant as earlier concluded to have another opportunity. Many Clubs were represented.

 

 

As part of my desire to ensure that Clubs comes together in collaboration to do more projects, the District Service Projects Committee chaired by PAG Julius Nwokoro put together a wonderful Seminar to sensitize Clubs on the modalities to undertake sustainable service projects and thus earn points for awards. This was a success and Clubs that participated were able to learn more strategies from the knowledgeable speakers that presented at the Seminar.

I like to appreciate our own PDGs, Remi Bello, Patrick Ikheloa, Jide Akeredolu, Bola Oyebade, DGE Femi Adenekan and DGN Lanre Adedoyin for being available to facilitate and impact knowledge accordingly.

 

 

We appreciate God for His grace that has kept us alive until this moment. It is not because we are faithful or are special people with extraordinary talents and manners that He spared us from 2023 till 2024.

 

Regrettably, but with total submission to the will of God, some of our colleagues were not that lucky and passed on. They were with us this time last year but are no more today. Our District 9110 lost a total of Eleven (11) Rotarians including a past District Governor during the first half of this Rotary year.  May I request we observe a minute silence for the repose of their souls whenever we read up to this point of my address. May their Souls continue to rest in perfect peace, Amen.

 

 

Please join me to congratulate Rotarian Jude Chiemeka of the Rotary Club of Lagos, who has been appointed as the Acting Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the  Nigerian exchange Limited (NGX) with effect from today January 1, 2024. We do wish him all the very best in the discharge of the responsibilities.

 

 

It has been a half year full of activities and I believe we have done well in our communities from all that I have seen, and I say, once again, well done to my Hope Presidents and its Club members.

 

It is time for Clubs to put together their half year reports in line with the Guidelines for Awards and Recognition for Clubs as released by the district and submit same to the Committee.  I am very sure our Clubs will prepare detailed reports of activities, upload goals achieved in the Rotary Club Central for the half year to reflect how we have served and created hope in our various communities.

 

 

 

This will hold on Friday, 12^th January 2024 at the Rotary Centre .The details of the events will be as released by the Committee ably led by AG Lolade Ogungbe.

 

All Rotarians are cordially invited to this New Year Celebration. The event will also mark the Hope District Governor Birthday. Come celebrate with me and have some FUN!!! Especially my birthday mates born on the 12^th of January , and all born January birthday celebrants . I await you all .

 

For the first time in the history of our District we will be hosting the All-Nigerian Rotarian Convention. This is a Biennial gathering of Rotarians from across the 4 Districts in Nigeria and for this Rotary year, it is the turn of our District to host the event in Lagos.

 

The event comes up from 15^th to 17^th February 2024 at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

 

The Committee headed by PAG Senator Ganiyu Solomon and Rotarian UK Eke (AKS) as his Vice, has been working tirelessly to ensure it is an unforgettable Convention.

 

Please do not be left out!!!

 

Register to attend.

 

Have you registered yet for the game or sport of your choice? Kindly register through the links provided by the committee and indicate which sport you will be playing, while also pleading with Rotarians to give them the desired support, financially and physically. Kick off of the sporting activities is on 17^th January, 2024 and The grand finale is still happening between March 8^th. & 9^th, 2024.

 

My regard goes to the Committee Chairman PP Alozie Nsirimobi and all his team members for the hard work being put into this.

 

 

 

The Committee headed by PDG Yomi Adewunmi of the Rotary Club of Gbagada and that has PDG Somo Omoniyi of Rotary Club of Agege as Vice Chairman are still ongoing with their assignment and as time comes by and as necessary, I will be updating you on the progress of the Transition Committee work.

 

During the month of December, I led a team of the DGE District 9111, DGE Wole Kukoyi, Chair, World Peace and Understanding Day, PAG Dare Adeyeri and the District Executive Secretary, PAG Tayo Adelaja on a courtesy visit to One of Our Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library home. The team was well received by him and hopefully we would have him, Chair the upcoming World Peace and Understanding day event on 23^rd February 2024.

 

The team, without our DGE Wole Kukoyi , after attending the burial ceremony of late Mrs Yejide Ajayi , sister to PAG Kayode Aderinokun in Abeokuta ,equally visited the Secretary to the Ogun State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi in his office in Abeokuta. The very fruitful discussion is in preparation towards the District Conference in May and many more Collaboratory desires with the Government of Ogun State.

 

The district office will reopen for business and activities on Thursday, 4^th January 2024.  I look forward to seeing you all again with beautiful smiles, renewed strength, and grace to continue to Create Hope in the World.

 

Let me end my address by thanking you once again for the support of the last 6 months and to request for even more support for the next 6 months. Please note that donations to the Rotary Foundation and growing our membership remain the two focal points of Rotary International.

 

Special gratitude goes to my CORE TEAM for their dedication throughout the last six (6) months and I pray for strength for all for the second half of the year.

 

May we all be continually strengthened and endowed with all it takes to serve humanity, as we Create Hope in the World.

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

District Governor 2023-2024