DECEMBER IS THE MONTH OF DISEASE PREVENTION & TREATMENMT
I welcome you to the month of December, a month that Rotary International has dedicated to Disease Prevention & Treatment. This is the month where we continue and step up in some instances all the projects, we do in our communities towards preventing diseases and treating already identified ones. During this month, I wish to particularly ask for collaboration among clubs to be able to do very impactful projects along this line.
From my visits to Clubs during the month of November, I see that Our Rotarians are not deterred by the current economic situations as they continued doing the live impacting projects across our communities. Particularly as the month of November was dedicated to Rotary Foundation, Rotarians carried out different projects and services aimed at creating awareness for the Foundation and above all raising money for the foundation. At the end of the month of November, I have visited a total of 67 clubs in the district. I thank all the clubs visited till date for receiving me and my team members.
WEST AFRICAN PROJECT FAIR
I wish thank Rotarians who registered and participated at the Virtual West African Project Fair that held between 3rdand 4th November. I thank the Committee led by PAG Ebun Atinuke for the good job done and hope Our Clubs will follow up with partners and other clubs contact across the globe as an aftermath of the Project fair.
We are in month of December, the famous month of Christmas. As we prepare to receive the Santa Claus in Our Communities, let us remember the Rotary International purpose for this month, which is disease prevention and treatments.
MEMBERSHIP
Apart from the reports of inductions being carried out by clubs, I equally had the privilege of personally inducting some members too. The highlights on membership for the month of November was our meeting with the lead prospects at the district office on November 11. There was a sense of excitement from these prospects and clubs are already following up with them.
As at the end of November, we had a net gain of 235 inductees reported by Clubs on Rotary Club Central. I wish to plead yet again with our Club Presidents to report and update their membership status with Rotary International as soon as induction ceremonies are concluded.
I have no doubt that we shall deliver on the 20% minimum membership growth for the Rotary year.
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
November being the month dedicated to the Rotary Foundation saw a lot of activities across the Clubs and at the district level towards creating awareness for the foundation and raising money. Our district leaders were going across the clubs’ delivering speeches and moderating seminars on Rotary Foundation and, indirectly helping the clubs to raise money for the Foundation. I thank Our pool of resourceful district leaders for the work of service they do for Rotary. 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.
The Highlights of the Rotary Foundation month was the Foundation seminar that held at the district office on Thursday November 23, and I thank Our Speakers and Rotarians who made out time to attend physically including those who joined virtually. The Annual Rotary Foundation Dinner and Dance equally came up on Sunday November 26 at the Muson centre, the very well attended event saw Our guests and Rotarians standing up in support of the Rotary Foundation by donating generously. I wish to use this medium to thank our leaders, Past RIVP Yinka Babalola and Trustee Elect Ijeoma Pearl Okoro for their presence and facilitations for the donations.
As at the end of November, our contributions to the foundation for Polio is $33,755.12 while our total contribution to the foundation is $215,409.96
PUBLIC IMAGE
The second in the series of the planned DG Speaks for this Rotary year held on Monday November 6 was a success, with many Rotarians and District Leaders joining to listen, interact and to ask relevant questions as it affects their clubs.
Once again, let me congratulate all our Club Presidents and their members for the over whelming publicity drive being undertaken at all levels. Our stories are all over the social media space, print media 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!!
LATE PDG EMMANUEL SHOBANJO
The funeral ceremonies of Our late PDG Rotarian Dr Emmanuel Olufemi Shobanjo who died on the 15th of October has come and gone. A Service of Songs was held in his honour by the District on Monday November 13 at the district office, followed by his wake keep and burial on Thursday November 16 and 17 respectively. I thank Our District Leaders and Rotarians who made out time to attend these events. The district also took up a full coloured page publication in one of our National dailys, Thisday Newspaper to publicise his death, thereby giving honour to him as deserved.
Our thoughts remain with the family and may his soul continue to rest in Peace. To the Rotary Club of Ota, I thank you for standing by the family from the beginning to the end of the funeral activities.
ON-TO SINGAPORE
Following the meetings and negotiations with two prospective airlines (Qatar and Ethiopian), the committee had published some travel dates for Rotarians to choose from and revert to the Committee, kindly do so if you are planning to attend the convention in Singapore. This information is needed to finalise the MoU being worked on with the Airlines.
MULTIPLE TRAINING
I thank the multi-Club training led by AG Abiodun Oshinibosi for the 3 very successful sessions that have been held so far, this rotary year across Zones. I wish to use this medium to inform us all that the next session for zones 11 and 12 comes up in Abeokuta on Thursday December 7. I urge Rotarians in Abeokuta and axis to attend.
FAMILY OF ROTARY
I wish to remind us once again of the 2023 edition of Family of Rotary which comes up December 8 and 9 in Agbara. This edition promises to be a bang, please register to attend if you have not done so already.
I thank the Chairman of the Committee PP Laura Ubanozie and her team for a job well-done so far and I urge them to step up the game to ensure we deliver on this wonderful event.
ROTARY SPORTS FESTIVAL (ROSFEST)
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. The grand finale is still happening on March 8th. & 9th, 2024.
My regard goes to the committee chairman PP Alozie Nsirimobi and all his team members.
WOMEN IN ROTARY
The 2023 edition of the Women In Rotary Conference & Awards with the theme “Inspiring Leadership and Passionate Action’’ came up as planned on Wednesday November 29. The well attended event had very impactful sessions and a lot that must have been taken away by those who attended.
I thank the Committee led by the Chairperson, Rotn Vivian Ohiaeri and her team for a wonderful job they did and I ask the good Lord to bless you all
ROTARY FOUNDATION DINNER & DANCE
As mentioned earlier the Rotary Foundation Dinner and Dance was held on Sunday November 26. I thank all our district leaders and Rotarians for making out time to attend this event in numbers and for your on-the spot donations. God bless you as you kindly redeem the pledges so that we can close out on the accounts of the event.
I thank in a special way, PP Bamidele Onalaja(AKS) and his members for the very good event.
DISTRICTING
Following the announcement of our districting on Thursday October 26,2023, a new committee that will see us through the transition process and a kind of “happy ending” was inaugurated on Thursday November 16, this Committee headed by PDG Yomi Adewunmi of the RC Gbagada and that has PDG Somo Omoniyi of RC Agege as Vice Chairman has since commenced their activities. As the time comes by and as necessary, I will be updating you on the progress of the transition committee work.
On your behalf, I have appreciated the PDG Remi Bello led Committee that brought us this far on this journey for the incredible job they are doing, I say thank you to him and his committee members. I wish them all the very best in their continued work of service to humanity.
CONCLUSION
As we begin the sixth month of the Rotary year, which is dedicated to Disease Treatment and Prevention. I wish to remind us all of the topic of Mental health and urge Clubs that are yet to do any project or activity on the topic of mental health to please do so this month.
I wish us all a Merry Xmas and a happy new year in advance and as I continually ask that you, please join hands with me to create hope in the world.
Thank you.
Rotarian Ifeyinwa Ejezie FCS, CRM
District Governor