There is a sizeable number of people desirous of education, but lack of funds may have cut short their dreams. This is one of the areas where Rotary Club is making a difference, writes OLATUNDE ODEBIYI
Jelili Aragbaiye wanted education badly as a child while growing up in Akowonjo, a Lagos suburb. But his father’s income was barely enough to take care of the family and other basic needs. So, after primary school, Aragbaiye was sent to learn ‘vulcanising’ some metres away from their home. Now at 44 and with four children and a wife to cater for, he thought all hope of ever furthering his studies was lost.
However, the Rotary Club of Akowonjo is giving the likes of Aragbaiye a second chance through its literacy programme. The District Governor, Rotary District 9110, Dr. Jide Akeredolu, said education was an important tool of development.
Akeredolu, who spoke during the inauguration of AbdulKareem Musa as the 34th president Akowonjo Rotary Club at Lagos Airport Hotel in Ikeja, Lagos State, called for intensive awareness on immunisation for children in Nigeria and plans to deepen the club’s literacy programme, adding that Nigeria has not had any case of Polio in three years and is qualified to be declared Polio free.
“We intend to continue in our Adult Literacy Programme for the next batch of students for the Rotary year. We would embark on the provision of automobile tools, welding and industrial spraying machines among other technical tools to some Technical Colleges in Lagos State and we would donate water tank, provide food items and other household equipments to orphanage homes.”
The guest speaker, Prof Aderonke Samuel, a professor of Biochemistry, University of Lagos, called for increased awareness on cancer screening, urging all to pay more attention to their health and seek medical attention as needed.
Akeredolu stressed the need to intensify efforts on immunisation to ensure that polio does not return to the country.
“We have to continue to immunise our children to make sure that they are well protected and ensure that Polio case does not arise again in the country. It is easy to become compliant at this time, but, this is time to put in more advocacies, put in more pressure on the relevant layers of government to make sure that they do not forget to continue the race.
“We have been doing this since 1985, but it becomes difficult when we are approaching the end to eradicate polio. We should consciously keep it in the front burner so that people will continue to know that we have to continue immunising the children so that we would not go back to where we started,” he said.
He urged parents to bring out their children during immunisation days, adding that it is a routine for newborn babies.
Musa’s predecessor, Bisi Taiwo, during her tenure, delivered a lot of goods to the community. As the 33rd President of Rotary Club of Akowonjo, Lagos, District 9110 Nigeria, Taiwo said her passion for charity and service to humanity is excellent, adding that she has been able to exhibit that during her one year tenure as the club President.
Among projects carried out by Taiwo, was a three-day health programme in partnership with Rotarians for family health and AIDS prevention at Ipinlerere Primary Health Care in Alimosho, where participants had free HIV/AIDS screening, malaria tests, blood sugar test, blood pressure check and eye test. There was also free distribution of condoms, mosquito nets to pregnant and nursing mothers, as well as prescription of medications to patients, and referrals were given where applicable.
Also during her tenure, the club joined the Rotary worldwide in celebrating the World Polio Day in June this year. Through its contribution to the Rotary Foundation, the club becomes one of the few to partner District 9110 Nigeria and District 3020 India on the surgical mission, which commenced in March. The project aimed to provide free surgeries, including plastic surgeries, general surgeries, orthopaedic surgeries, urology, gynaecology, dental and ophthalmology.
The club also renovated toilets and provided water to Shasha Primary School at about a million naira. The renovation included fixing the roof and the ceiling, provision of new water closet with wash hand basin, fixing all the doors and painting the wall. The provision of ICT Centre for Abati/Rauf Aregbesola Primary School, Shasha, which began in the 2017-2018 Rotary year, was completed during her tenure. The project involved the renovation and equipping of a room with computer tables and chairs as well as electrification and installation of 10 computer sets.
On August 20, last year, the club kicked off the adult literacy programme, which has become the club’s yearly project. It also empowered youths by training about 25 of them in Akowonjo community on various vocational skills, inclining, hairdressing, fashion design, shoemaking, art-making, makeup and event management/decoration.
A visit was also paid to Little Saints Orphanage and donations including food items, beverages and toiletries among other items were giving. Planting of trees was also done in Abati/Rauf Aregbesola Primary School.
It also raised funds for eradicating polio in Nigeria to ensure that Nigeria joins other countries that are declared polio-free.
The club has also been adjudged the third-best in the District. According to Taiwo, the gestures were to render service to humanity and in fulfilment of Rotary’s mandate.
Musa said humanitarian services would be delivered to communities. Identifying some of the projects to be embarked upon in the Rotary year, he said: “We will be working in collaboration with Keystone Bank Limited for the provision of chairs and desks for 450 pupils in our adopted schools and emphasis will be laid on economic empowerment programme. We intend giving micro-credit facility to about 100 market women within Alimosho Local Government.”
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