In less than one year in office, Rotary Club of Lagos President, Mr. Ehi Braimah has executed projects in some communities, which touched lives. These are critical to the implementation of his mandate as the 58th president of the club.
In line with the club’s tradition, Braimah flagged off activities for his six-point agenda last July 18, with the donation of medical equipment worth over N700,000 to Onikan Health Centre and Maternity. That inaugural project falls under maternal and child health support, focused on saving mothers and children.
Since then, the club has continued to reach out to various communities in peace and conflict prevention/resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy and economic, and community development.
Braimah, who spoke in Lagos while reviewing the club’s activities, disclosed that with the support of the Chief Executive Officer Ideas House Marketing Communications, Mr. Kunle Salami, the club provided 500 mosquito nets worth N1million because part of his agenda is to provide 1,000 mosquito nets to fight malaria.
“We have also given mosquito nets to primary health care centres in Lagos Island, Sura, Araromi, Kareena. Nigeria is one of the three countries, alongside Pakistan and Afghanistan, still having cases of polio, but Rotary is working so hard to lift Nigeria out of the list,” he said.
Braimah, who is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Neo Media and Marketing, said his mandate is not all about project and club activities, but also membership engagement. “So, just like I’ve been doing, I will do more to raise the profile and the glory of the club. Giving my background too, I have been able to really increase the profile of the club because public image is also very critical in running Rotary. My plan is to build the brand of Rotary through creating and promoting what we do.”
Interestingly, Rotary Club of Lagos has been proactive in the conception and execution of its intervention projects such that the peoples’needs are paramount. One of its projects was directed at empowering operators in the small scale sector, such as traders and market women. The club gave out interest-free micro credit loans in three markets, including Oniru Market. “We powered Ita Marun with solar power and provided them water and palm kernel crushing machine because they were only crushing their palm kernel manually. We gave the women micro credit loans of N20,000 each. Apart from giving them money, we also trained them on how to manage their businesses,” he said, noting that such seed money though little, would go a long way in stabilising such individual businesses.
On how the club is intervening in education especially, with the alarming rate of out of school children in the country, Braimah said there is little a club can do, but that Rotary Club Lagos was determined to make a big change through its intervention projects.
“There’s little a club can do. We have 97 clubs in the district. Every club comes up with their plan in the six areas of focus.
“We have supported library project at Ereko Methodist Primary School and we are still going to donate books to schools in Surulere and Mushin. We are looking at providing them with chairs; some of these schools have dilapidated furniture. One of the plans we have is to partner Dowen College to build a learning resort centre at ItaMarun. Like creating a place where you have volunteer teachers coming like thrice a week; we deal more with public schools,” he added.
Asked how he prepared himself for this task of leading the club, he said: “In Rotary, we develop leadership skills. We have Rotaract clubs in secondary school, which are part of Rotary International. The idea is to help young people develop leadership skills from a young age. We also have Rotaract clubs at the university level and they can be chartered by Rotary clubs.
“Our club was chartered on May 30, 1961, making me the 58th president of the Rotary Club of Lagos. One may ask why I was found worthy to be the president since I joined Rotary Club of Lagos in 2012. There’s a system of mentoring in Rotary; we go for training and we spot talents, mentor them. So, through that process, those we believe can lead the club to achieve a higher purpose, are elected. Rotary is all about service and that is why we say vocational service is the essence of Rotary. We undertake meaningful projects in communities, thereby touch lives. So, don’t be surprised in future if I become District Governor of Rotary International.”
According to Braimah, who was inducted President last July 6 last, serving humanity and giving selflessly are in his DNA, which he said, is more than fulfilling.
“I’ve always believed in serving humanity, giving selflessly. I don’t only have enough, but I’m ready to do more. The hand of the giver is always on top. Generosity comes with its own blessing. It’s like a magnet attracting good things. Those who work for charity live longer; you feel fulfilled when you touch another person’s life. I’m fulfilled as a Rotarian and President of my club. I will continue to serve after my tenure because the reward for hard work is more work.”
Braimah, a public relations, marketing and brand professional, attended Government College, Ughelli, before he proceeded to the University of Benin, Benin City, where he bagged a degree in Industrial Mathematics. He committed himself to a career in journalism and marketing communications and has acquired enormous experience in media relations, sports, entertainment and leisure marketing; event management and brand strategy.
Over the years, Braimah has consulted for a many multinational organisations. They include Nigerian Breweries, Coca-Cola, Unilever, Cadbury, PZ, Promasidor and CardinalStone Partners. He started his career in 1988 with Complete Communications Group, a publishers of Complete Football, Complete Sports and Climax, a general interest magazine. He served as reporter, senior staff writer, general editor and editor until 1991.
Later, he became Head of Media Relations and as General Manager of Ideas Communications Limited in 1991. He served until 1995, when he joined Whitewood Group where he was instrumental to the rapid growth and rising profile of the event marketing and management, media relations and brand development arm of the Group until he quit eight years later.
