Posted on Sep 29, 2017
Rotary Club of Iponri, District 9110, has unveiled an official website and email address on the Nigerian .ng Internet space for Rotarian Dr. Wale Ogunbadejo, District Governor, Rotary International District 9110, Nigeria, during his official visit to the club on Wednesday, September 27, 2017.
 
The new website, www.ogunbadejo.ng, which was designed and hosted by Rotary Club of Iponri was unveiled during a courtesy visit to the custodian and manager of the .ng domain name, Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA). The website was unveiled at the NIRA office complex where the Governor and members of his entourage were received.
 
The Governor, accompanied by some of the district leaders, was received by the president of the Rotary Club of Iponri, Rotarian Shina Badaru, past presidents of the club including Rotarian Segun Adewakun, who is also the District Secretary, Mr Adebiyi Oladipo, Executive Board Member of NIRA, Mrs. Edith Udeagu, Chief Operating Officer of NIRA, and some other members of the club.
 
According to the DG, “We need to let people know about this. It’s a hidden secret. I think NIRA need to do a lot on public awareness. People need to know about you and what they will benefit from using your facility. I thank everyone who have come together to arrange the domain name.”
 
 
 
Rotarian Shina, who announced the DG’s new website, ogunbadejo.ng and the official email address, wale@ogunbadejo.ng, stated, “We are here today to lay the foundation for ‘Digital Literacy 101’ which is aimed at extending the frontiers of all that we do, to help Rotarians understand how to use the Internet to spread the good deeds of Rotary around our country Nigeria and across the world.”
 
Mrs. Udeagu, while addressing the DG and members of his entourage, said, “We know that Rotary is into providing humanitarian services, this is also what we do at NIRA. We also know that this month is Rotary’s month of basic education and literacy. We have the NIRA Academy that covers literacy and empowerment programmes.
 
“We have people who come here, rent our hall and conduct trainings on skill acquisition and capacity building for people, free of charge, to bridge the gap in literacy level”, she explains.
 
NIRA highlighted the benefits of using the .ng domain name to individuals and corporate bodies. They include greater brand recognition awareness, cheaper domain name costs, target sales, easy to register, among others. She also explained that the domain names are localized and support is closer while opening long-term investment opportunity, provision of employment opportunities, and also increases global presence.
 
NIRA further highlighted the benefits of the .ng domain name to Nigeria. They include increase in GDP, retain foreign exchange and naira protection, opening of the local online space, priority for trademark owners, and also better education and training.
 
Mr Adebiyi Oladipo of NIRA told the Governor and members of his entourage saying that “Our commitment is to a better society and to make Nigeria better than what it is. There are only two sides to this life; the good side and the bad side. Rotary is on the good side, so is NIRA. What you have seen is just a little. There are still so many opportunities for Nigerians on the .ng domain and we will work together to achieve this.”
 
DG Ogunbadejo, expressed his gratitude to the club and also to NIRA, “I must say that I am truly enthused about this visit because I didn’t know what to expect. I think NIRA has not done enough for public awareness. I think more Nigerians need to know about this. Every Nigerian should really have a .ng address provided the opportunity is there and that is the job of NIRA, but we will help you with that.”
 
According to the DG, “We need to let people know about this. It’s a hidden secret. I think NIRA need to do a lot on public awareness. People need to know about you and what they will benefit from using your facility. I thank everyone who have come together to arrange the domain name.”
 
At the club’s board meeting, the Governor commended the club’s work book, describing it as “the best so far”, especially the accounts section. He however advised the club to organise trainings for its new members in order to fast-track their knowledge to catch up with that of the old members who have been with the club for a longer period of time.
 
He also advised the club to make sure that knowledge acquired at trainings is “downloaded” and shared by those who attended to those who didn’t attend. The DG also commended the club for the number of members between the age brackets of 40 and below, describing it as “huge”. He further commended the club for achieving its target for RYLA participation for the year.
 
The Governor shared fellows with the club members during which three new members were inducted into the Rotary Club of Iponri family.
 
Funds were also raised towards the eradication of polio, through raffle tickets sales. A raffle draw was carried out and three winners carted away mouth watering prizes of an air conditioner, microwave and standing fan.