THE IMAGINE ROTARY JOURNEY…….The first 31 days
My Dear Rotarians,
Can you just Imagine? One month gone by like a flash in the pan! The minutes started counting from 12.01 on 1st July, 2022 and of the 525,600 minutes we have, some of which have fast gone by, we can’t imagine more, but only the minutes ahead.
‘You don’t imagine yesterday, you imagine tomorrow’-----RIP Jennifer Jones
First and foremost, I want to thank the Almighty and faithful God for the incredible journey so far. The year started with many, including myself imagining what exactly the next 365 days would look like. Despite the vision and goals earlier set for the year, the question still remained: would they be eventful, interesting, challenging, thrilling, motivating, different, etc, especially because our district was having the first female District Governor (FFDG)? However, I want to say that the first one month has been a combination of all the above experiences and even more.
THE HANDING OVER CEREMONY
My worthy and award-wining predecessor, Immediate Past District Governor Remi Bello handed over to me officially on Thursday 1 st June 2022 following the conclusion of the assignment of the transition committee that was set up. In a brief ceremony, he handed over two copies of his detailed handover notes in the presence of both his outgoing and my incoming teams at that time, as well as the transition committee.
My assumption of office, on Friday, July 1, 2022, began with a brief service and session at the Bank PHB hall, followed by the launch of D9110 Rotary Global Radio by the Doyen of Past District Governors, Rotarian Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, OFR, mni as well as the unveiling of his bust at a strategic location at the Rotary Centre.
This was quickly followed by the launch of Polio Plus Society and decoration of 67 Rotarians who signed up as pioneer members with a contribution of a minimum of $100. All those that keyed in got a special PPS pin. They were also presented with certificates of membership. District 9110, I would like to put on record, took the lead as the first in Nigeria to initiate this.
On that same day, I attended the very first installation ceremony, which was that of Rotarian Joe Akhigbe as the President of Rotary Club of Lagos, at The Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.
We equally committed the year to God's hands by attending Juma’at prayers at the Central Mosque, and the Interdenominational Church service and Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa, respectively.
INSTALLATION OF DISTRICT GOVERNOR
This was a very well attended event which was held on Saturday, 2 nd July, 2022 at High Point Event Centre, Ikeja by Rotarians and many distinguished guests present and represented, including Her Excellencies, the First Ladies of the two states covered by our District, Lagos and Ogun States, Dr. (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo- Olu and Dr. (Mrs) Bamidele Abiodun respectively. Their presence at the District Governor’s installation was quite historic and remarkable. Two other former Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. (Mrs) Nike Akande, OON, CON and Dr. Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, OFR, mni were also there to grace the occasion. I am thankful to God and to all of you for making it an overwhelming success
CLUB VISITATION
I started my club visitation in earnest, beginning with Rotary Club of Ikeja, on Sunday, July 3, 2022. So far, ten clubs have been visited, and I am pleased to report that all of them are effective and vibrant; ready and willing to make a
bigger difference in their communities this Rotary year. Life changing projects were also executed by them during my visit. I was, in fact, privileged to plant my first tree as District Governor at Gbagada Senior High School during my visit to RC Gbagada South. Other clubs have since followed in observance of July as the month dedicated to tree planting.
VISIT TO LAGOS STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (LASEMA)
Together with my core team, and members of the District Disaster Relief and Management Committee, I paid a courtesy visit to the General Manager of LASEMA, Mr. Oluwafemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the ‘Double Eagle’ as he refers to himself, a member of RC Agege in his office, on Monday, July 17, 2022. This organization hosts the Rotary Club of Ikeja Alausa Golden, of which the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning, Rotarian (Mrs) Abiola Kosegbe is a member.
He gave us a very rousing welcome, being the first time the District Governor of 9110 would visit the organization. Apart from taking us on a 45-minute tour of the incredible facility, we struck a partnership that will immeasurably benefit both organizations, one of which is to train interested Rotarians on Disaster Management at no cost.
MEMBERSHIP
As First Female District Governor (FFDG), I had the First Man of the District, Mr. Francis Akingbade Lawson, as the first Rotarian to be inducted on the first day of July during the first investiture ceremony I attended at the first Rotary club in our
District, Rotary Club of Lagos. It was indeed a Koseleri induction. I have also had the privilege of inducting over 20 other new members, who cut across clubs so far visited by me and many other clubs have also added to their membership.
NEW CLUB FORMATION
Two new clubs were chartered by Rotary International in July. They are Rotary Club of Greenfield, sponsored by Rotary Club of Amuwo, which was chartered on Monday, July 11, 2022, with 47 members and has PP Francis Opute as the Charter President and PP Francis Ogugua as the New Club Adviser. The second being Rotary club of Rock City, Abeokuta which was chartered on Monday 25th July with 25 members, sponsored by RC Abeokuta Metro and has CP Abiodun Sobogun as the Charter President and PP Joseph Babatunde Somoye as the New Club Adviser.
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
An incredible record of contributions A total of $148,034 has been recorded within the first 29 days in July. This will increase when the 4 clubs with 119 Rotarians who have also signed up give their pledged contributions. The District was able to attract two AKS members within the first three weeks of the IMAGINE ROTARY year.
POLIOPLUS
My dear Rotarians, two major sources of fundraising were adopted for Polio Plus this year. The first is the PolioPlus Society and the second, Rotary International President, Jennifer Jones’ $800 worth of painting given to all District Governors
to specially and specifically raise funds with. With the launch of Polio Plus Society on July 1, 2022, and during my official
visits to Rotary Clubs of Ikeja, Lagos, Falomo, Gbagada, Ikeja South, Agege, Gbagada South, Ojodu, Ikoyi and Ikoyi Metro, almost 300 Rotarians have signed up at a minimum of $100 each. The launch of the RIP JJ’s painting has equally generated a contribution of almost $18,000.
ANNUAL PROGRAMMES FUND
14 Paul Harris Fellows and 2 upgraded first level Major Donors and 1 level two Major Donor and EREY payments have been recorded so far.
ENDOWMENT FUND - ARCH KLUMP SOCIETY (AKS)
The first AKS member was pleasantly achieved via PP Dare Adeyeri of RC Lagos, he is the chair of year 2022 Rotary Foundation fund-raising dinner. This was closely followed by Rotarian Urum Kalu Eke also from the prestigious RC Lagos, the first club in D9110.
SERVICE PROJECTS COMMISSIONED SO FAR
Expectedly, a lot of service projects have been commissioned so far covering the seven areas of focus. From donation of baby cots to the Island Maternity to inverters at LASUTH, refurbishment of toilet facilities in schools, to ICT centres, micro-credit facilities to market women and other empowerment programmes. Many clubs supported the environment with tree planting in different dimensions.
PUBLIC IMAGE – launch of D9110 Global Rotary Radio
District 9110 Global Rotary Radio is a fully air conditioned and all acoustic radio station located in the refurbished media room at the Rotary Centre. The station which started live transmission since July 1, 2022 provides Rotary clubs the golden opportunity of global coverage of their activities and projects.
This is an initiative introduced to support clubs in their public image drive as well as to publicise their club activities and projects globally at a very affordable cost. The station transmitted live on 1 st July and has since been hosting different clubs and individuals. I sincerely appreciate the following for their support in setting up the studio through donations, both in cash and kind:
· Rotary Club of Victoria Island (Major Sponsor)
· Rotary Club of Lagos West
· Rotary Club Victoria Garden City
· Rotary Club of Ikeja South
· Lt. Gov. Ibikunle Ogunbayo
· PAG Toyin Emordi
· PAG Ayo Olumoko
· PP Abayomi Bickersteth
· AG Adeleke Yusuff
· PAG Jemilu Bawakata
. AG Tolulope Onalaja
. PP Segun Musa
The Public Image seminar held on was hugely successful and very well attended
with almost 150 Rotarians physically present and many others online.
DISTRICT EDUCATIONAL, AND WELFARE ENDOWMENT FUND (DEWEF)
Contributions (club & individual)
1. Ikeja N500,000
2. Lagos N1,500,000
3. Falomo N500,000
4. Gbagada N5,000,000
5. Ikeja South N1,250,000
6. Agege N200,000
7. Gbagada South N1,000,000
8. Ojodu N250,000
9. Ikoyi N500,000
10. Ikoyi Metro N1,000,000
DISTRICT'S FIRST AID ROOM REFURBISHED
The first aid room which was created in the 2017-2018 Rotary year by PDG Wale Ogunbadejo and had since not been effectively utilised has been refurbished and provided with special medical equipment and medications by RC Ikeja South as one of the projects that was commissioned by the District Governor during her visit to the club. It is now named RC Ikeja South First Aid Room. As the name suggests, it will basically be to provide first aid treatment to Rotarians and guests.
THE DISTRICT ENTERTAINING LOUNGE
The reception, now known as the Entertaining Lounge, has become friendlier, more welcoming, inviting and entertaining with a front desk officer/receptionist permanently on seat. Rotary songs are also played uninterruptedly to enliven our spirit as we conduct our Rotary business in the premises. In fact, you cannot but stop to watch District events, birthday celebrants, District Governor’s visits to clubs, commissioning of projects both recorded and live, as they unfold and unfurl on the big television screen strategically placed at the reception.
RECOGNITION AND CELEBRATION OF CLUBS AND ROTARIANS
Promises made and promises being daily fulfilled. Clubs that met the 100% membership retention as of July 1, 2022 are daily being rewarded with the presentation of ‘100% Membership Retention Awards’. The certificates have been presented to some clubs Rotary Clubs of Ikeja South, Gbagada South and Ikoyi, Ojodu and Ikoyi Metro during my official visit Recognitions will be a monthly affair this Rotary year and those that deserve them will be widely announced to Rotarians. My dear Imaginative Rotarians, I must confess that the month has been eventful and fruitful.
PARTNERSHIPS
We have struck very promising partnerships with both humanitarian and non- humanitarian local and international organizations and government agencies, some of which the District has started enjoying. They include:
1. GAC Motors
2. UKAID
3. Peace Arena for Youth Foundation
4. Lagos State Emergency Management Agency
5. St John Ambulance, Nigeria
6. Lagos State Education Districts
7. Decibel Hearing centre
GUIDELINES FOR AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
This has since been sent out to clubs to sensitize them on how to plan and work as a team and in line with the vision and goals of Rotary International and District 9110. In addition to the above is the newly created award of ‘BEST DISTRICT ROTARIAN’. Each club is to send the name of one Rotarian who has qualified at the club level, having met the criteria earlier provided to club presidents. All club qualifiers will be invited for District qualification for the three overall best Rotarians.
LAUNCH OF THE PIONEER D9110 ROTARY PEACE SCHOOLS
The month of July ended with the launch of Rotary Peace Schools in 25 public Junior and senior secondary schools adopted by Rotary Club of Akoka. The launch was followed by the training of the 25 Pioneer school Peace Advocates who are teachers in the adopted schools and one student from each school. It is an initiative similar to the Rotary Peace Centres in Universities across the world.
This is a vision I have conceived over the years as an educator for almost 44 years and as a Past Peace President. This laudable project is in partnership with Peace Arena for Youth Foundation, whose CEO is our District sponsored Peace Scholar, Rotn. (Dr) Doyin Ogunyemi of RC Akoka, St John Ambulance, Nigeria which has as its CEO, Imaginative President Orube also of RC Akoka, Education District 6 and Rotary club of Akoka. The teachers who have been trained will train 30 students each in their schools as Peace ambassadors using the International Peace Jam curriculum for a period of 10 weeks.
BEYOND D9110……
I attended the Flag-off ceremony for the Nationwide Grassroot Peace Sensitization, Voter Education and Human Rights Awareness Campaign at the Institute For Peace And Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Abuja on Saturday 30 th July. This is the fall out of the formation of Rotary Nigeria National Peace-building and Conflict Prevention Committee and the integration of Rotary Nigeria Districts 9110, 9125, 9141 and 9142 by Rotary Inter-country Committee of Great Britain and Ireland – Nigeria in May this year. My last Rotary assignment of the month of July was done on Sunday 31st at BRITACH School, Lugbe Abuja where I had the opportunity of planting a tree and inducting new members on the invitation of Rotary club of Abuja-Lugbe
MY 2022-2023 DISTRICT TEAM
Putting together the 2022-2023 District team, I was very mindful of my choice of word. I invited Rotarians to work with me rather than appoint so as to motivate and make them perform their roles and responsibilities with true sense of belonging. This is magical as all the chairmen of committees involved in all activities reported here have delivered impressively. May I at this juncture appreciate them immensely and all their committee members.
Rotarians have been very supportive morally and financially. I doff my hat for all the Women in Rotary, D9IIO who have supported their own, the first female District Governor in her resolve to use fellow women to do significant things in our District. As we all continue to Imagine Rotary of Our Dream, I want to assure us that things can only get better with the wondrous support of you all.
FINALLY…….
We need to remind ourselves that by 12.00 midnight of 31 st July, we would have used 44,640 out of the 525, 600 minutes we have in the year to take action. Nonetheless, as we all continue to render service to our District and communities, things will get better with the continued and wondrous support of you all. Thank you as we Imagine Rotary of Our Dream.
Omotunde Lawson, FCAI
Imaginative District Governor
Imaginative District Governor