Distinguished District leaders and fellow irresistible Rotarians,
Welcome to a sparkling new experience, a refreshing newness and the celebration of a new birth. Today, we make a historic milestone in our Rotary journey. As the pioneer District Governor of District 9111, I am humbled and excited to lead our district into a new era of service, growth, and impact.
July 1st signals a fresh start, a new chapter in Rotary story. We embark on this journey together, united in our quest for excellence and our passion for service, ready to embrace challenges and seize opportunities. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams (Eleanor Roosevelt). We have imagined great things in our service to humanity and we are defining our future by creating hope in our communities.
Our theme for this year is "The Irresistible Magic of Rotary." This is not just a slogan or a theme; it's the essence of who we are and what we do. It's the spark that ignites our passion for service, the glue that binds us together in fellowship, and the fuel that drives us to make a difference.
The magic of Rotary is about transforming lives, transforming communities, and transforming the world. It's about the impact we make when we come together, united in our pursuit of excellence. It's about the smiles we bring to children's faces, the hope we give to those in need, and the joy we experience in serving others.
My vision for our District is simple yet bold: "Empowering Rotarians, Enhancing Impact." We will strive to make Rotary the service organization of first choice, a beacon of hope and kindness in our communities. Our District's value proposition is built on, among other things, the twin pillars of trust and integrity. Integrity is part of our core values. Doing the right thing in the right way; and adhering to values with positive intent shall define us as an organisation.
Our projects and initiatives will align with Rotary's action plan and seven areas of focus, thus addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges. In our various projects and engagements, we will increase our impact as we expand our reach, enhancing participant engagement and increasing our ability to adapt.
District Governor’s Official Visit
I am happy to inform you that our maiden official visit takes place today, to the Rotary Club of Ikeja.
The visits hall be accorded the seriousness and importance that it deserves.
Membership
As at 28th of June 2024, our membership in D9111 stood at 2224 in 76 Clubs.
Our District goal is a minimum of 30% net membership growth. This will be achieved through various strategies that improve attraction and engagement whilst reducing attrition.
Rotary Foundation
Our goal for Rotary Foundation is $633,154 through Annual Funds, Polio plus Funds and endowment. We are mindful of the effect of the fluctuating and unfavourable dollar exchange rate, but we are confident that the commitment and enthusiasm of Rotarians will overshadow this.
Building and equipping of Sickle Cell Disease Centre for Ogun State.
Approval has been given by the relevant arms of government. The official foundation laying ceremony has been fixed for Wednesday 3rd of July 2024.
Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention:
In collaboration with Olabisi Onabanjo University, the District will organize a certificate-awarding 3-month study in Peace building and conflict prevention study. This is aimed at boosting capacity building of interested applicants. Graduates from this course will be usefully engaged in institutions and organisations that deal with such issues in the community.
Gift-of-life Project.
This is a pilot Global Grant project that aims at identifying 10 children with congenital hole in the heart for surgery in India and is in partnership with Rotary Club of Singapore. The application has already been approved whilst screening of patients will commence very soon.
Maternal and Child Health
July is the month of observation of Maternal and Child Health.
Signature projects are expected to be carried out by Clubs under this area of focus
Rotary Youth Leadership Academy
This annual event is important in leadership training and equipping of our youth. Plans are underway to flag off the program in August 2024. This year’s event targes 400 students
Rotary Friendship Exchange
We will be playing host to our friends from Districts 9213 and 9214 from Uganda and Tanzania from 4th July to 10th July 2024. They will be joining us at the Installation ceremony which comes up on Saturday 6th July at the Bamoral Event Centre, Ikeja.
As we embark on this journey, let us remember the wise words of Mahatma Gandhi, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Let us be the change our communities need. Helen Keller once said, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." Let us stand together, united in our pursuit of excellence.
In conclusion, my fellow Rotarians, the future is bright, and the future is ours! Let us write a new chapter in our Rotary story, a chapter filled with hope, kindness, and compassion.
Together, let's make a difference and create a lasting impact!
In the Rotary world, the sun never sets.
With Rotary, humanity never dies
Thank you for your support and trust.
Wole Kukoyi,
District Governor D9111 2024-2025