Wow, time is flying! We are already into our fourth month of the Rotary year, and I am so excited to share the amazing progress we have made so far.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all Rotarians for their incredible support and cooperation in achieving our collective district goals. Special thanks to my United Presidents for their leadership and teamwork.
Our official district visits have been a resounding success, with 30 clubs visited so far. It has been an honour to interact with Rotarians in their communities and witness the commendable impactful projects being carried out. I would like to appreciate the clubs that received me during the month of September for their performances and hosting of the DG and his team.
However, I do want to mention that the Rotary Club of Ikeja Airport didn't quite meet their scheduled date, despite our appeal to stick to the plan. Our visits continue in October, and I look forward to engaging with more clubs.
I am happy to report that our membership gain has been impressive, with a net gain of over 210 members in just three months.
I appreciate all Rotarians who have introduced new members. It is gratifying that you have made your own contribution to our membership goal for this year. Membership remains the heartbeat of Rotary, and we must continue to propagate the good works of Rotary for more members.
It is my honour to announce that at last, we have laid the foundation of our flagship project, the Rotary Peace Centre at Olabisi Onabanjo University. It was a historic moment as the Vice Chancellor, Prof Ayodeji Agboola and I jointly turned the sod. I would like to thank the Peace Building and Conflict Prevention Committee for their outstanding work. Additionally, I'd like to announce the completion of Cohort 3 of the 3-month Peace Study Course and thank our Immediate Past District Governor, Dr. Oluwole Kukoyi's company, Ace Medicare Clinic, Ota, for sponsoring the 4th cohort, which will commence soon.
I encourage all Rotarians to support the Rotary Peace Centre, either through cash donations or kind (building materials), to ensure its successful completion and commissioning.
Fusion Summit 2025 has come and gone, and it was truly and unforgettable event having Rotarians from Europe, Middle East and Africa coming together to discuss contemporary issues as it affects Rotary and the world in general. It was such a great event to have all Rotary International leaders in attendance ably led by the Rotary International President himself, Francesco Arezzo and our own RIPE Yinka Babalola.
I must not fail to mention the delay and denial of visas of our Rotarians by the Belgium Embassy. This was quite unfortunate, but I will appeal to our Rotarians to see it as one of those challenges we face in life and look forward to the next institute in Kampala, Uganda, in August 2026.
I would also like to share with you our recent visit to the Rotary International Europe office in Zurich, where we had the privilege of interacting with the officials who oversee Rotary activities in Europe and Africa.
It was a remarkable experience, and we were honoured to participate in the 100th anniversary exhibition of the establishment of the Zurich office.
We also had the opportunity to bond with the Rotary Club of Zurich International Circle, fostering new friendships and partnerships. It was such an exciting evening with these amazing fellow Rotarians.
I am most grateful to all the Rotarians who joined me on this momentous trip.
As we enter October, Rotary International's Economic and Community Development Month, I encourage clubs to undertake projects that build capacity in communities, support entrepreneurs, and foster sustainable economic growth.
Let's also remember to commemorate World Polio Day on October 24th, a significant event in our fight against polio. I urge clubs and individuals to register their activities on My Rotary to ensure our district records the highest participation. Permit me to remind everyone of the importance of donating to The Rotary Foundation. It remains our vehicle for doing good in the world. Our donations so far are still far from our goal for the year.
I am pleased to announce that this year's Rotary Foundation Fundraising Dinner and Dance will be held on November 29th, 2025, in honour of our revered Doyen and PDG Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi's 85th birthday anniversary. Rotarians who have made a one-off or cumulative contribution of $500 to the Rotary Foundation this Rotary year are eligible to attend. It is going to be an evening of fun, entertainment, and a celebration of legacy.
May I seize this medium to congratulate the United President, Rotarian Mike King, and members of Rotary Club of Isolo, the Best Club of the Month, and the other top 5 clubs. I encourage all clubs to submit their reports on time and strive to win this monthly recognition.
Special congratulations to our new Youth Exchange participant, Arnold Faranpojo, who left for Germany on a one-year stay. I wish him well on this life-changing journey. He is being sponsored by Rotary Club of Ikeja South.
In closing, all thanks to my Unite for Good Rotarians for your support so far, and I encourage you to join hands with me to achieve a resounding success.
As the Rotary motto goes, "Together, we make a difference, and together, we can achieve greatness."
Let's work together to achieve our goals and make a lasting impact on our communities.
"Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much." - Helen Keller.
Thank you... see yah next month!
Rotarian (Prince) Henry Akinyele,
District Governor 2025-2026