Rotarian Ifeyinwa Ejezie, a top stockbroker and entrepreneur, has been installed as the 43rd and 2nd female District Governor of Rotary International, District 9110 during a ceremony held at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The colourful installation ceremony of Rotarian Ejezie, a member of Rotary Club of Ikoyi Metropolitan was attended by Senator Sam Anyanwu (Chairman of Occasion), President, Christian Association of Nigeria and General Overseer, Christ Holy Church International, Archbishop Daniel Okoh and his wife, Mrs Ngozi Okoh, His Royal Majesty Igwe Thomas Obidiegwu, The Oluoha XVII of Ihiala (Royal Father of the day), Otunba Segun Sowunmi (Guest Speaker), former Nigerian Minister and Doyen of Past District Governors, Rtn (Prince) Julius Adeluyi-Adelusi, Past Rotary International President, Rtn Yinka Babalola, Past District Governor Ijeoma Pearl Okoro, Past District Governors and many personalities from different walks of life.
In her acceptance speech immediately after she was handed the mantle of leadership by Immediate Past District Governor, Rtn Omotunde Lawson with the support of other Past District Governors, an elated Rtn Ejezie vowed to continue the great work that Rotary International which covers Lagos and Ogun States have been doing in various communities.
She noted that she was lucky to be the last District Governor of Rotary International District 9110 (The District will by next year be split to Districts 9111 and 9112) and therefore will therefore galvanize the District to achieve great feats and create hope in the world.
Keynote Speaker, socio-political analyst, Otunba Showunmi, commended Rotary International for its relentless effort at making the world a better place.
Describing Rotary as a highly esteemed organization, he said “It is remarkable that such an organization is able to yield leadership to females back to back”
He urged other organizations to “borrow a leaf and pay more attention” to the practice of inclusiveness which is already established in Rotary as a result of the organisation’s well-oiled system which he referred to as “unfamiliar dynamics” that brings together people from different walks of life to work together with some reasonable level of harmony, cooperation, and understanding.
He further encouraged Rotarians to double their efforts for mankind to be saved, while urging others to join hands with the organisation through donations, to do more, especially now that Nigerians are going through hard times.
In the same vein, Chairman of the occasion, Senator Anyanwu thanked Rotarians for their immense sacrifice over the years. He noted that as a philanthropist who himself has established many foundations, he knows that it is not easy to sustain the art of giving to others, putting smiles on their faces and helping them live better lives.
While His Royal Majesty Igwe Thomas Obidiegwu and Archbishop Okoh in their remarks, prayed for the newly-installed District Governor. They asked God to guide, guard and bless her with divine wisdom to enable her succeed.
In the course of the occasion which was put together by an Installation Committee chaired by Past Assistant Governor, Okechukwu Uche-Ukah, special awards were presented by to the Group Chairman/CEO, NESCO Energy Service Company Limited, Alhaji Usman Mohammed, Ibom Air, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, Senator Samuel Anyawu, among others.
The well-attended event which was anchored by Ace Compere, Ali Baba, Rotarians Azuh Arinze and Charles Okonkwo also had in attendance, Chairman, Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee, PDG Joshua Hassan, District Governors of Rotary International, District 9125, Rtn Sani Ahmed, District 9141, Rtn Emeka Utebor and District 9142, Rtn Akan Emah, Miss Whitney Ifeoma Okeke (daughter of the new DG), Rotarians Wole Kukoyi and Femi Adenekan, District Governors-elect for District 9111 and 9112 respectively, District Leaders and many others.
The lively event which was rounded off with a massive fundraising session also had good quality entertainment provided by Tuface Idibia, Humblesmiths, Yinka Davis and an Indian cultural troupe.
