Fellow Rotarian, I recall with nostalgic feelings my first time of addressing you as your District Governor on July 1 and Waooo, so soon, its one month gone already. I thank the Almighty God for the incredible journey of the past 31 days. After the handing over ceremony on June 30, 2023, we started off the year with a well-attended Interdenominational Service on Saturday, July 1, handing over the year and all its activities to God. INSTALLATION OF THE DG 2023 The much talked about installation of me as the 43rd District Governor of our District came up on Saturday, July 15th at the Lagos Oriental Hotels and it was different in many ways, from the colour, the ambience, participation and fund Raising. I give all Glory to God who made it possible. The Installation was graced by the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Traditional ruler and King of my town Ihiala, Anambra State with most of his Ichies in Council, my District Governor colleagues from the three other Districts in Nigeria, OUR Pride, Past Rotary International Vice President Yinka Babalola, Our Revered Doyen PDG Juli Adeluyi -Adelusi and all the distinguished Past District Governors, my Chairman, Guest Speaker and Special Guest of Honour, so many Dignitaries too many to mention. Permit me to specially appreciate 2baba, 2 Face Idibia (who honoured me as the Original African Queen on that day), Humble Smith (OSINACHI), Yinka Davies, Frank de trenor, and Diamond for their wonderful performances at the event and so many other Celebrities Present. The after party anchored by ILLUSION, added so much colour to the installation as Rotarians and guests that stayed behind are still having so much to talk about. Let me use this medium to thank you all once again for the financial support and attendance at the event. Your presence made all the difference and am so PROUD of you all. I wish to use this medium to appreciate in no small measures the Chairman and members of the DG Installation Committee for using their Time, Treasure and Talent to deliver this wonderful event, I thank you all!!! CLUB VISITATION Club visitation started on July 2 and till end of July a total of 13 Clubs have been visited. The Clubs visited so far, are very effective and carrying out impactful projects in their communities, mostly in the area of child and maternal health, like donations of medicines and work tools at hospitals, baby cots, etc to commemorate the month of July, and also some other projects like e-libraries, water and sanitation, tree plantings etc. I must commend all the Clubs that have taken time to publicize all the projects commissioned this month of July in line with our goals and aspirations for this Rotary year, through different effective media. I say, more grease to your Elbows. VISIT TO LTV 8 & LAGOS TRAFFIC RADIO I was a guest of the lunch break live TV program “Lagos Today” on July 12 in company with the Hope President of RC Gbagada and was equally at the pidgin English lunch break program “lunch break waka” of Traffic Radio, this time in company with the Hope President of RC Agege. On both occasions, I took the message of hope to Nigerians. MEMBERSHIP During the course of my visitations to Clubs I have had the privilege of inducting a total of 23 members and I am aware that so many Clubs have been inducting new members, and plans to also charter new Clubs accordingly. With the disposition I saw in most Clubs in the District I have no doubt that our target of 20% membership growth is achievable. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION We started the Rotary year with the Scare of dollar rate increase and the removal of fuel subsidy, this no doubt rattled Rotarians and affected the expected flow of Donations to our Foundation. We undoubtedly needed to remind Rotarians about who we are and why we need to continue giving to the Foundation. We do not give because we have too much or that we don’t have other needs for our money, we give because we need to give back to the society, especially the less privileged and to support the fight to eradicate diseases like polio in the world. So far, a total of $39,046.43 has been contributed to The Rotary Foundation during the month of July, with a lot of pledges done willingly by Rotarians. The enthusiasm exhibited by Rotarians during my Club visits, left me with no doubts that our District will achieve the set target of $1.2m as contribution/donations to The Rotary Foundation during the year. Expectedly most Clubs are all EREY and all Polio Plus Society Members and they have promised to do the needful to live up to their obligations. SERVICE PROJECTS Numerous projects were commissioned on behalf of Rotary Clubs during the course of the month of July. So far, these projects covered the 7 areas of focus and notable amongst the projects include - Global Grant WASH Project commissioned at - E-library at the Awolokun Secondary School, Gbagada - Street light and beautification project, Soluyi, Gbagada - Mental Health awareness signage - Solar power/Inters to Falomo Police Hospital - Phototherapy Equipments at the Airforce Base Hospital - Micro Credit projects - Donation of work tools - Tree planting - Various medical consumables at LASUTH, different public health centers - Baby Cots at the Island Maternity Many Clubs also commissioned projects in support of mother and child to commemorate the month of MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH in our Rotary calendar. COMMITTEES INAUGURATIONS The following Committees were inaugurated in the course of the month and they have since commenced with their plans for the Rotary year. - DEWEF Board of Trustees - We Care - District Rotary Club Central - Rotary Friendship Exchange - District. Polio Plus - District Fund Raising - Rotary Youth Leadership Academy - Rotary Foundation Dinner Dance - Women in Rotary PUBLIC IMAGE I wish to re-iterate once again through this medium like I have done during the trainings and my visits to Clubs that so much emphasis will be placed on publicity this Rotary year. It is very sad that we do so much in Rotary, but do not do enough to publicize such projects and where we do, we do not tell this story in a compelling way. Those who attended the interdenominational service held on July 1 can testify to this when the officiating minister was shocked when he heard all that Rotary does, hence we need all the Clubs to budget adequately for publicity this Rotary year. To this end, the first in the series of planned Public Image Seminar was held last week at the District office. It was very well attended and had a goodwill message presented by the Regional Public Image Co-Ordinator, Rotarian Ibim Semenatari. The following were the speakers at the Seminar: - Mr. Atunyota Akpobome (Ali Baba), - Dr. Ambrose Olutayo Somide, - Mr. Wole Olagundoye, - PAG Sam Ayetutu and - IPP Sola Akinsiku I thank the Chairman of the District Public Image Committee and the Rotarians that made out time to join the seminar and a very big thank you to all the Clubs for the huge publicity and compelling stories published in the month of July. I Say More Grease to your Elbows. My Special regards and appreciation to Past President Gbenga Badejo of RC Ikeja for the huge bill boards strategically positioned in Maryland bus stop, Bonny Camp area of Victoria Island and Yaba respectively. You can’t imagine how much publicity this singular act has brought to Rotary, and how many enquiries on how to join the organization as a member. May God bless him. PARTNERSHIP During the course of the month, we had a meeting with the Chairman of Tolaram Group, Rotarian Mohan K. Vaswani who is a Rotarian of the RC Singapore in company with Rotarian Tom Wolf who is the President Elect of RC Singapore. There is a talk of collaboration on projects with Clubs across the Districts and a participation at an International Convention like never before in Singapore next year. We were also advised to make hotel reservations on time as the good hotels are selling out fast. YOUTH SERVICES The futures of Rotary ranging from Rotakids, Interact Clubs and Rotaract Clubs have taken off the new Rotary year activities focusing on creating hope in the world. In addition, they continue to make waves across the Districts and pan Africa. I am pleased to inform you that one of our Past District Rotaract Representatives, Rotaractor Constance Jaiyeola was elected as the Rotaract Africa President for the Rotary year 2023-2024. On your behalf, I have offered our congratulations and best wishes for her. Let me equally inform you that our District 9110 was equally elected to host all African Rotaract Summit this Rotary year. The event will hold here in Lagos, January 2024 and I ask for your support in making this a huge success. CONCLUSION As we begin the second month of the Rotary year, which is dedicated to Membership, let us plan to invite our friends to Rotary with a view to grow membership in our various Clubs. Let Each One bring One and strive to retain all. Be a Rotarian of Action today!!, Plan to attend the District Membership Seminar on the 9th of August at Abeokuta accordingly. I thank you as we continue to join hands to Create Hope in the World. Rotarian Ifeyinwa Ejezie FCS, CRM District Governor |