I welcome you into the seventh month of this Rotary year; The month of February which has been dedicated to Peace Building and Conflict Prevention by Rotary International.
As Rotarians, we provide training that fosters understanding and provides communities with the skills to resolve conflicts. We make help happen through Service Projects, Peace Fellowships, and Scholarships where members take action to address the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, inequality, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources.
Rotarians also address the underlying structural causes of conflict by relieving millions of people suffering from poverty, inequality, ethnic tensions, lack of access to education and unequal distribution of resources.
This month of February also marks the birth of our organisation, Rotary International. Specifically, Rotary International will be 119 years old on Friday, 23rd February2024.
Our District will be marking the day with a symposium titled “Nigeria and World Peace”, under the Distinguished Chairmanship of His Excellency, Chief Olusegun
CLUB VISITS
As at the end of January, I am pleased to inform you that a total of 98(Ninety-Eight) Clubs have been visited. I thank the Presidents and members of the various clubs that have received me and my team . I congratulate you all on the various life-touching projects that we are doing in our communities.
It is however very disturbing to imagine the rate at which Clubs have been postponing the planned DG visits to their Clubs in most instances giving excuses that at best suggest that their club is not functional. May I use this opportunity to once again inform the Hope Presidents, particularly of Clubs not yet visited that the DG’s visit to clubs is very statutory and non-willingness to
The District Executive Secretary will send an updated itinerary as regards the visits to the Clubs and I do urge you to keep these dates sacrosanct and prepare your workbooks in preparation for the visit.
MEMBERSHIP
Apart from the reports of inductions being carried out by Clubs, I equally have had the privilege of personally inducting so many quality members into Rotary. I wish to please appeal once again that the Clubs should register such members inducted on Rotary Club central immediately. In the same vein, I wish to equally plead with our clubs to please stop these massive deletions to enable us to conclude our districting with good membership status.
As reported by Clubs in the Rotary Club Central we had another net loss of 170
I still have no doubt however that we shall deliver on the 20% minimum membership growth for the Rotary year if only we can stop or reduce these massive deletions and recruit quality members.
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
I wish to appreciate Rotarians for your generous contributions to The Rotary Foundation in the last seven (7)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 January, our contribution to the Foundation for Polio is $62,270.13 while our total contribution to the Foundation is $307,319.08.
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.
PUBLIC IMAGE
The fourth in the series of the planned DG Speaks for this Rotary year was held on Monday, 8th January 2024 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. The fifth in the series will hold on Monday, 5th February2024. 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!!
ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP ACADEMY (RYLA)
The 2023-2024 RYLA program was held between 6th – 14thJanuary 2024 at the NYSC Orientation Camp, Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos and 823 Youths were trained to be our Hope for the Future. It was a successful program and quite an insightful Training.
This first of its kind in our district with the following highlights:
1)The Following Celebrities and Motivational speakers were on hand to give talks to the youths:
-Mrs Tara Durotoye
-Odunlade Adekola
-Ayodeji Makun(AY)
-Broda Shaggi
-Koffi The Gury
-Seyi Awolowo
-Zizi Cardow(Fashion Designers) etc
2)13 Rylarians were awarded various scholarships by the BYINKS Foundation-11 Schorlarships to University Level(Rotn BanireOlayinka Sharafa AKA BOS ) and Chris Bamidele Foundation-2 Schlorlaships.
3)In conjunction with the Rotary International District
4) On top of these all, District 9110 in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Singapore will be giving 50 Youths that excelled in the
A vey big thank you to AG Tolulope Onalaja and her team for a job well done.
ROTARY AWARENESS PROGRAMME
As part of my desire to ensure that Clubs showcase more about Rotary and their accomplishments in terms of projects for the half of the Rotary year, The Rotary Information and Awareness Committee chaired by PP Funke Salau and her members put together a wonderful programme on Saturday, 27th January 2024 showcasing Clubs and their achievements so far. The following Clubs won during the Club recognitions:
1st Position goes to Rotary Club of Lagos
2nd Position goes to Rotary Club of Ijoko
3rd Position goes to Rotary Club of Ikeja
It is important to mention at this point that the awards givenon the day of the awareness celebration was given by the Awareness committee and it was given in recognition of the awareness/publicity by Rotary clubs as demonstrated on the day.
I like to appreciate our own PDGs, Otunba Bola Onabadejo, Adewale Ogunbadejo, Kola Sodipo and Bola Oyebade for being available to impact knowledge accordingly.
EVENING WITH DISTRICT GOVERNOR
The Celebration Evening with the DG and my Birthday celebration
It is important to mention that this evening for those who were there will be an evening to remember in a long time, of spectacular mention is the performance by a theatre group that showcased our traditional culture.
I appreciate our District leaders and all Rotarians for their attendance. Permit me to mention specially the Hope Presidents led by their Captains, the Assistant Governors led by their Captains and numerous groups that celebrated me with lots of gifts. God bless you all.
Kudos to the Committee ably led by AG Lolade Ogungbefor delivering yet another superlative event.
ROTARY SPORTS FESTIVAL (ROSFEST)
The Kick off ceremony of the Rotary Sports Festival was held on Wednesday, 17th January, 2024.
Hope you have all registered for the game or sport of your choice? Kindly be part of the sporting activities
The contest is currently on going at different zones and for different sports, Such as the just concluded Tennis bouts at Ijeja Stadium, Abeokuta. These winners from differentzones will be slugging it at the finals happening in Lagos between the 8th and 9th of March. Please watch out for updates from the Committee.
My regard goes to the Committee Chairman PP Alozie Nsirimobi and all his team members for the hard work being put into this.
ALL NIGERIA ROTARY CONVENTION
Have you registered for the Biennial gathering of Rotarians from across the 4 Districts in Nigeria? If NO, please do not be left out of this all important African gathering. For the first time in the history of our District we will be hosting the All-Nigerian Rotarian Convention. It is the turn of our District to host the event in Lagos.
The event comes up from 15th to 17th 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.
DO NOT BE TOLD. Please do not be left out!!!
Register to attend.
WORLD PEACE & UNDERSTANDING DAY
The programme is scheduled for Friday, 23rd February2024 at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Kofo Abayomi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos to commemorate the birthday of Rotary and annual World Understanding Day Lecture under the distinguished Chairmanship of our former President, His Excellency, General (Dr) Olusegun Obasanjo (Rtd), GCFR.
Kindly plan to be in attendance.
ONTO SINGAPORE
Screening is currently ongoing for Rotarians that have registered to attend the convention. Please ensure you are screened and ready for the visa applications.
DISTRICT CONFERENCE
The momentum for the 2023/2024 District Conference tagged “Actualisation Conference” is on the rise and no doubts Rotarians are up for a conference like never before. If you have not registered, please do so today!
DISTRICT TRANSITION COMMITTEE
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 theTransition Committee work.
EMERGENCE OF DGNDS FOR DISTRICTS 9111&9112 FOR THE ROTARY YEAR 2026/2027
Following my announcements of the results of the Nominating Committee in respect of the above.I wish to inform you once again through this medium that at the end of the reviews and interviews,the following Rotarians emerged as the DGNDs for Districts 9111 and 9112.
1)District 9111-Rotarian Bukola Bakare of the Rotary Club of Ikeja GRA
2)District 9112-Rotarian Layi Abidoye of the Rotary Club of Gbagada.
I thank the nominating committee members for the 2 days of intensive work and I congratulate the DGNDs.
CONCLUSION
Let me end my address by thanking Rotarians who have remained very supportive in different ways during the half year of this Rotary year and in the last one month despite the prevailing economic situation in our Country as I do not take it for granted. Let me plead that we should not rest on our oars and such should be our spirit till we breast the tape by 30th June.
Please note that donations to the Rotary Foundation and growing our membership remain the two focal points of Rotary International.
Serving Humanity is our commitment. Let us all continue to do this and many more with our live touching projects and continue to Create Hope in our various communities.
Thank you.
Rotarian Ifeyinwa Ejezie FCS, CRM
District Governor 2023-2024