Rotary District 9110 Installs 38th District Governor
 

Rotary International, District 9110, Nigeria has installed Rotarian Kola Sodipo, as its 38th District Governor.

 

The installation ceremony which was held on Saturday, July 7, 2018 was well attended by Past District 9110 Governors, other District Governors in Nigeria, Rotarians, friends and guests who trooped into the Muson Centre in Lagos to honour the new District Governor, the cloudy weather notwithstanding across the city.

 

Rotarian Kola Sodipo who is a member of Rotary Club of Gbagada South, will oversee the affairs of the district in the 2018 – 19 Rotary year which runs between July 1st 2018 and June 30th 2019.

 

DG Sodipo, while delivering his address charting the roadmap for the year, underscored the need for individuals and corporate organizations to leverage on platforms such as Rotary to always reach out to members of their communities through humanitarian services.

 

“We are here on this planet to help others, many of whom we may never meet. We are here to live a life that is worth emulating. We are here to leave a lasting legacy that will outlive us and make generations yet unborn to remember us for the good we do while we are here”, said DG Sodipo.

 

“Our distinguished guests and friends, there are many platforms that we can choose to do good to others but I invite you today to choose our organization Rotary, a platform that has got a wide spread of diverse, over 1.2million friends, neighbours, associates, business and professional leaders spread across over 200 countries and geographical regions of the world”, he said.

 

“Coming closer home, I want you to support the cause of Rotary and “Be the Inspiration” in our communities in Lagos and Ogun States, to serve humanity this Rotary year 2018–19 and beyond. How do you support us? This year, our District in conjunction with our clubs, will focus on Health, Education, Skill acquisition & development for our Youth as well as Poverty alleviation”, he added.

 

He encouraged them to donate and partner with the district in the areas which the district will be focusing on this Rotary year, while inviting them to join and become active members of any of the various Rotary clubs in the district.

According to the DG, “In the area of health, we shall fully equip identified Primary Health Centres in our district, covering Lagos & Ogun states, to enable such institutions provide the much needed health care delivery in the various communities they serve.

 

“Also the Intercontinental Free Surgical Mission, in various medical specialties, in conjunction with Rotarians and specialists from Districts in India and USA, will benefit our people. The annual free Surgical Eye Missions in liaison with various clubs in our District, will also continue and be strengthened.

 

“On education, we shall identify and support education at primary & secondary levels with provision of functional classrooms, science & ICT laboratories, student furniture and libraries. We shall also provide portable water and sanitation facilities in identified schools in Lagos and Ogun States.

“Our youth will be assisted to be more useful to themselves and gainfully employed through various skill acquisition training and leadership development programs. Our vocational centre at Igbogbo – Ikorodu will be strengthened while additional one will be established on the large expanse of land that is being acquired – courtesy of Ewekoro LGA and Ogun State governments.

 

“Whichever way you choose to support us today and this year in particular, it is certain that the good you do will certainly come back to you. I urge you to help when you can, be there for fellow human beings when you can, encourage others when you can, motivate when you can, inspire always, offer a smile to someone today and help restore hope”, the DG said.

 

“A truly happy life comes from giving more than you take. Life is better when you are happy, but life is at its best when others are happy because of you. ‘Be the Inspiration’ for people out there. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult the situation you find yourself in, still do good to others; because the good you do will certainly come back to you. 

 

The Immediate Past District Governor, Rotarian Dr. Adewale Ogunbadejo, congratulated DG Sodipo on his new position, wishing him a very successful Rotary year ahead.

 

IPDG Ogunbadejo, in his farewell speech, gave a report of some of his major achievements during his year, while thanking everyone that worked together with him towards achieving them.

 

The IPDG said, “I promised that we shall erect and equip a brand new vocational centre to help our teeming, unemployed youths that need to be empowered with skills to live independent lives, thus reducing criminality and improving economic well - being in our communities”.  

 

“With the support of wonderful people who were present at that event, my district leaders and other Rotarians, a brand new vocational training centre was built and equipped in Igbogbo town, near Ikorodu. This cost about N40million and has started operations with 371 trainees in seven skill sets. 

 

He went ahead to say, “I also promised that we shall refurbish or build new primary health centres in under-served communities in Lagos and Ogun states because of our belief that if many primary health centres are working, there will be less unnecessary deaths in our communities. 

 

“Through our district grant, many clubs renovated primary health centers or donated very important equipment, notably the Careena by Massey Health Centre in Lagos Island by Rotary Club of Gbagada, Abiodun- ojodu Health Centre by Rotary Club of Ojodu, Mascara Health Centre in Agboyi-ketu by Rotary Club of Gbagada South. 

 

“Major hospitals like General Hospital Gbagada in Lagos, General Hospital Ijaiye in Abeokuta etc. also had major equipment and insecticide-treated mosquito nets donated by various clubs. We were also able to attract eight ready-made equipped port-cabins to serve as primary health centres through collaboration with Rotarians from Turkey, Brazil and use at a cost of $160,000.00”, the IPDG said. 

 

He revealed that the 2017-18 year started with 2452 members and ended with 2807 members and a total of 103 clubs. “The district also supported the polio eradication efforts with a donation of $89,000.00 and thousands of man-hours on the field in advocacy, immunization drives and awareness creation”, he said.

 

Rotarians and non-Rotarians at the installation ceremony, made huge donations to The Rotary Foundation and also to support district projects.