The reality of the shortness of time, no matter how long it seemed at the beginning, is dawning on us by this first day of the last quarter of the Rotary year.
As we step into the month of April, I am filled with excitement and anticipation for the wonderful opportunities that lie ahead. April is a time of renewal and rejuvenation, and I believe it's the perfect moment to reflect on our progress, recharge our batteries, and refocus our efforts on serving our communities.
This month, we celebrate Rotary's commitment to protecting the environment. Our seventh area of focus, Supporting the Environment, is a critical part of our efforts to create lasting change. From planting trees to reducing waste, we are working tirelessly to preserve our planet for future generations.
As we continue our journey through the Rotary year, I express my deepest gratitude to each one of you for your tireless efforts, your generosity, and your dedication to our shared mission. You are the backbone of our Rotary family, and I am honored to serve alongside you.
Allow me to reflect on the significant events that shaped our District in the past month.
District Leadership
The training of our leaders started on a good note with the convening of the District Team Learning Seminar early in the month of March by the District Governor Elect, Prince Henry Akinyele. This continued with the recently concluded Presidents Elect Training Seminar. I congratulate our District Governor Elect on organising such impactful and successful activities with the rich collaboration of the District Learning Facilitator Omotunde Lawson and her entire team. The two events afforded the participants, the United Team, the unique opportunity to learn and relearn, network and have fun for the first time as a group. Other activities included the introductory meeting of Assistant Governors and their Clubs, and the sessions with the spouses of incoming Presidents facilitated by the Spouse of the District Governor. The PETS enjoyed the presence of the DGN Bukola Bakare, DGND Samuel Ayetutu and PRIVP Yinka Babalola who facilitated a practical demonstration on teamwork.
Membership
The growth in membership is reflected in the current statistics:
Membership as at 1st July 2024: 2136
Membership as at 30th March 2025: 2326
Net membership gain: 190
We hope to form more Rotary Clubs in the next few weeks.
Rotary Foundation
Currently, the figures are as follows:
• Annual Program Fund: $164,760.91
• Polio $19,275.64
• Endowment $3,000
• Others $36
Total $187,072.55
Club Visits
As of 30 March 2025, 66 Clubs have been visited, leaving 8 (out of which 4 are newly-formed). These are Rotary Clubs of Alagbado, Alakuko, Ikeja New Horizon, New Towns Oko-Oba, Dideolu Golden, Lagos NorthWest, Ikeja Golden Impact, and Amuwo Prestige.
It is hoped that these Clubs will appreciate the importance of hosting the District Governor as a demonstration of functionality.
Rotary Friendship Exchange
The exchange visit to District 2440 in Turkey eventually took place between 22 and 28 March 2025 having been shifted from the earlier date due to late granting of visas.
The team of thirteen Rotarians (from Districts 9111, 9112, and 9141) was led by the District Governor and his spouse.
Many interesting activities marked the visit. Host District Governor Mert Korur and Spouse Ozlem personally supervised the activities which ranged from visits to tourist centres, official reception at the District office (during which the Twin District agreement was signed), lunch and dinner engagements and the grand reception at their multi-club meeting. The latter featured charter certificate presentation to a new Club, induction of new Rotarians, recognition of new Benefactors and Major Donors to the Rotary Foundation, and the traditional flag and bannerette exchange.
District Coconut Planting Project
The ceremonial coconut planting was done at a colourful ceremony on 21 March with Rotary, ProvidusBank and the Community being fully represented.
Over six hundred Coconut trees donated by ProvidusBank had earlier been planted on a six-acre piece of land graciously provided by the Ado-Odo community.
The District Governor acknowledged the strong collaboration between Rotary District 9111 and ProvidusBank which gave birth to the tree planting activity and expressed the hope that the synergy would continue.
The Bank noted that care of the environment is a key social responsibility areaof the organisation, hence the huge investment in the project.
The paramount traditional king pledged the readiness and support of the community to maintain the plantation and ensure the continued success of the project.
Club Projects
• Provision of a block of four toilet rooms for a public school. This commissioning marks the first project executed with the assistance of District grants. Appreciation goes to the irrestible President of Rotary Club of Okemosan Golden for blazing the trail in this regard.
• Multi-Club medical outreach organised by Rotary Clubs of Greenfield, Festac Town, Festac Metropolitan, Amuwo, Canal Estate, Satelite Town and Lagos West. Components of the surgical mission are herniotomy, herniorraphy, breast lump excision and fibroid removal.The second in the series, this project has impacted a lot of underprivileged people in the community
• Widows’ empowerment by the Rotary Club of Ewu-Tuntun
• Collaborative Mega Water project which aims at providing potable water to six communities by Rotary Clubs of Ewu-Tuntun, Abule Egba Metropolitan, Ipaja New Dawn, Abeokuta Metropolitan, Adeniyi Jones, Gowon Estate, Isheri Golden, Ikeja South, Akowonjo and Opebi.
Courtesy Visits
• Taiwan’s Head of Mission in Nigeria, His Excellency Yih Ping Liu. Rotary. Issues discussed included the participation of Taiwanese doctors in the ANPA-Rotary medical mission, and improvement of relations between the mission and Rotary
• Rotary Eye Hospital. The trustees of the hospital led teams from UK and India who participated at the specialized cataract surgery outreach of the hospital.
Ongoing District Projects
Peace study at Olabisi Onabanjo University
The second cohort of students for the study will finish the programme in the first week of May.
There will be a joint graduation ceremony for the 80 students in May after the completion of the course by the second set.
Sickle Cell Disease Building Project
Construction work continues with the electrical, plumbing, aluminium and plastering components. This will be followed by the internal and external walls painting and the fixture of fittings.
As already planned, furnishing and equipping will be funded through Global Grant.
Mission for Vision
The surgical aspect of the mission continues at the background.
The current statistics are as follows:
• Total patients screened: 2,864
• Total cataract cases diagnosed: 1,056
• Total cataract surgeries done: 629
These amazing figures are a result of the professional astuteness of the Chairman of the Committee and the solid support and commitment of all the members.
We also enjoyed the quality of care that could only have come from the standard of the flagship Eye Foundation Hospital. We are most grateful and thankful to everyone, including all the volunteers from so many Rotary Clubs
Rotary Youth Exchange
Our student is doing very well. The monthly reports shared by her showed that she is coping well with the activities in the programme.
DEWEF
A total of sixty-four applications were received out of which forty-eight sat for the aptitude test on 20 March 2025.
Candidates that scored forty-five percent and above will be having the oral interview on Wednesday 02 April.
Coming Events
Calgary Rotary International Convention
Over 196 visas have been issued out of the 325 official applications.
The Naija Night party is completely sold out.
These are indications of a never-to-forget experience in Calgary.
In a bid to further strengthen our mutual relationship, the District Governor and the Calgary Convention Committee paid a courtesy visit to the Deputy High Commissioner, Mr. Carlos Rojas.
The central issues discussed were the large number of visa applications by Rotarians, and the necessity for viable bilateral trade and business relationships.
District Conference 2025
Whilst the details of the RI Representative are being awaited, invitations have been extended to the special guests and dignitaries for the event.
Support of Clubs is sought in areas of registration and placement of goodwill messages and adverts in the commemorative brochure.
Sale of Gala night tickets has commenced and is selling fast.
As we move forward to the last quarter of the Rotary year, I urge you all to remain committed to our core values of service, fellowship, diversity, integrity, and leadership. Let us strive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those around us, whether through our club projects, district initiatives, or global programs.
Let us march into April with renewed energy, enthusiasm, and a shared commitment to creating positive change in our world.
Oluwole Kukoyi,
District Governor 2024-2025