The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ROTARY

  • Rotary donates furniture to Lagos school

    Relief has come the way of Ifako Comprehensive Senior High School, Ifako-Gbagada, Lagos as Rotary Clubs from United States donated furniture to it.

    On the rationale behind the project, the Sergent at arms, Rotary eClub of the Southwest USA D5510,  Olaoluwa Olugbodi, said: “I went to a community school, (Ifako Comprehensive Senior High school) with the aim of donating writing materials to few students but to my greatest surprise I discovered that, according to the school scale of preference furniture is paramount to them.

    “This project is a collaboration among Rotary eClub of the Southwest USA D5510, Rotary Club of Centerville GA 6920 USA, Reno Rotary Club  USA D5190 and Sparks Rotary club D5190. As Rotary,  our contributions and support to our environment is very important because we know that government can’t do everything. Rotary Club deemed it fit to  equip 100 students of Ifako comprehensive senior high school with desks and benches to aid their learning ability. I believe that we make a life by what we give to our environment.’’

    The highlight of the events was the launch of the project by the District Governor for D9110, Nigeria, Patrick ikheola.

    The school Principal Mr James Akinto thanked the Rotary clubs for their generosity, adding that inadequate furniture was a major problem facing the school.

    He assured that the furniture would be used judiciously by the pupils.

  • Rotary, group hold blood donation camp

    The Rotary Club of Lagos Island, in conjunction with Toleram Group has held a free blood donation  campaign to increase the blood available at the bloodbank of the Lagos State Blood Transfusion Service (LSBTS).

    The exercise was also aimed to encourage voluntary blood donation and save lives.

    The office turned into a make-shift hospital, with many young men thronging the facility to donate blood. It held the entire day and 86 pints were got, even though 116 were registered for the exercise.

    Many were turned back due to high blood pressure, or unmatched blood group and others who eagerly wanted to donate could not when the organisers ran out of kits. The donors went home with cartons of Indomie noodles and other health support gift items.

    According to Charter President of the eight months old club, Vinod Garg, this is the second blood donation camp it has organised to encourage people to donate blood so that no life is lost due to shortage of blood.

    He said the club was looking at doing six blood donation camps every year with open offers from corporate organisations who wish to encourage their staff to donate.

    He said: “We are ready to partner with them and set up all the necessary logistics and with this, two to three more camps will be done before the end of this Rotary year in June.”

    Chairman, Rotary District 9110 Blood Donation Committee, a paediatrician, Dr Olufemi Akodu, noted that the safest form of getting blood was through voluntary donation, done without compulsion or any expectation of enumeration.

    He also noted that the method   was necessary to meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) mandate that every nation should meet its blood demand through voluntary donation; a practice which is not popular in countries like Nigeria thus, the need to sensitise the public of its importance.

    Head, Donor Unit of LSBTS, Oluyinka Sijuade, thanked the club and described it as the only club passionate about the cause of saving lives. She called for partnership on equipment between the two bodies to enable blood donation become a stress-free daily exercise.

  • Rotary seeks commitment to the poor

    Rotary seeks commitment to the poor

    How can the lot of the impoverished humanity be redeemed? It is by the majority to come out and assist the less privileged, the District Governor of Rotary International District 9110 Mr Patrick Ikheloa has said.
    At his maiden media tour to corporate office of Vintage Press Limited, the publisher of The Nation Newspaper, Ikheloa said Rotary International has been busy improving the lot of humanity since government cannot do it alone.
    He listed areas where the club has continued to champion change to include water and sanitation, security, literacy and education, maternal and child mortality, vocational training and Polio eradication.
    Ikheloa, whose jurisdiction covers 97 Rotary Clubs scattered between Lagos and Ogun States said the club under his watch had donated incubators to general hospitals, constructed blocks of classrooms to public schools, presented school bags to 2,000 pupils and donated boreholes to several communities.
    “Few months ago, in one of our milestone projects, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi had joined in the presentation to mosquito nets to the indigent people of Ile-Ife, in a project we jointly held with our sister district,” he said.
    Debunking insinuations that the club is elitist, Ikheloa said Rotary Club is for the masses and prides in giving back to the society.
    He called for more members to enable the club do more for the communities.
    According to him, becoming a Rotary member gives you that opportunity to reach out to the less privileged and put smiles on their faces.
    He said the club is committed to assisting and making life better for others, while also helping the community.
    “In this Rotary year, we want to make a difference in our world but we need more members and partners. If you join the club, it is easy for you to share with the club what your community needs and we will be able to provide it as a club,” he said.

  • Rotary, agencies seek end to road crashes

    Rotary, agencies seek end to road crashes

    How to end road crashes topped discussions at a seminar held by Rotary Club of Gbagada South at the weekend in Lagos. It was titled: The role of the community in maintaining peace on our roads.
    The event, which held at the General Hospital, Gbagada drew participants from relevant stakeholders – the government roads agencies, drivers unions, tricycle union, Community Development Association (CDA) and others.
    The hospital’s Deputy Medical Director Dr Lateef Keshiro, who was Rotary’s Planning Committee chairman, said the seminar was aimed at educating the public on the need for peace on the roads.
    Babatunde Jeje, the club’s President, said one of the aims of Rotary is to bring good to the world and that the seminar, which objective was to reduce conflict on the roads, was one of them. He added that this was the second edition of its peace resolution and prevention seminar series.
    Assistant Corps Commander, Federal Roads Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr Adeyemi Bashiru, who kicked off the discussions, said all hands must be on deck to end the menace. He said where there was no peace, there would be no development, urging communities to play a role in the issue. The rate of crashes in the country, he said, was alarmingly high, adding that about three million people are killed yearly in crashes and several others injured.
    Bashiru attributed the cause of crashes mainly to human error. He said there was the need to examine ourselves to know where we got it wrong.‘’We have a poor driving culture. This variable contributes to crashes. Driving requires 100 per cent concentration; non-concentration leads to fatalities. For example, it is only when we are on the wheels that we remember to receive calls or fiddle with our radio. Don’t receive calls when you drive,’’ he warned.
    Other risk factors in crashes, he added, were over speeding, non-adherence to traffic rules and regulations, and failure to use zebra crossings and pedestrian bridges. He called for attitudinal change on the part of drivers as well as learning before getting a licence and driving.
    About 80 per cent of this generation, he bemoaned, did not go to a school to learn driving. ‘’If you do not attend a driving school, how do you identify traffic signs?’’ he asked.
    Mr Kayode Oladosu, the Assistant Director and Head of Operations, Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), harped on safety, saying it is the slogan of his organisation. He said it should be the watchword of not only enforcement agents but also every one. He said to ensure peace on the roads, there must be sanity, and that this included having worthy vehicles with genuine licences.
    “Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) are everywhere in the country to sanitise the roads to ensure that the vehicles are road worthy and that driver’s have valid and genuine drivers licence. Though Nigerians decry the fines, they are meant to enforce sanctions. The government wants voluntary compliance from road users,’’ he added.
    Assistant Chief Traffic Officer Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) Kayode Olotu, who assessed the roads, gave one verdict: they are in a state of chaos. ‘’There is disregard for traffic rules,’’ he said. He said despite the efforts of the road agencies to restore sanity to the roads, ‘’many still see LASTMA as a terror group’’. But Olotu gave the agency a pass mark, decrying the harrassment by the public. ‘’LASTMA is your friend, not an enemy,’’ he emphasised. This drew laughter from the audience.
    Divisional Police Officer Oworonshoki Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) M. E. Okon, praised the seminar, calling for public-private partnership (PPP) to build and repair the bad roads, adding that until the roads are good condition we can’t restore peace to them. He said his call became necessary because the government could not do everything, especially in view of the recession.
    In all, the participants, praised the seminar.They asked questions which ranged from poor road agents relations to government’s non-challant attitude to road users.
    Hon Segun Babatunde, General Secretary, Community Development Council (CDC), blamed drivers and their conductors for chaos on the roads. He suggested that any driver caught removing his shirt while on the wheels should be arrested and sent to a psychiatric hospital.
    Also, Mr Babatunde Salami, who said he got his Drivers’ Licence in 1976, asked if there was still a Highway Code. He asked if a learner was still tested, issued Learners Permit before given a licence.

  • Rotary honours nine teachers

    NINE teachers in Owonrosoki, Lagos have bagged the Best Teachers of the Year award by the Rotary Club of Gbagada South.

    Mrs Morenike Oguntake, a Religious Studies teacher, received the award at Eva Adelaja Girls Junior Secondary School while Mr Moses Adesola Ariyo, Biology teacher, was selected at Eva Girls Senior Secondary School emerged.

    At Muslim Junior College, it was a Mathematics teacher, Mrs Racheal Oladapo, while at Muslim Senior College, Mr Olurotimi Ogundijo, a Commerce teacher got the award.

    At the Owonrosoki Schools Complex, the teachers were: Mrs Victoria Moroyeke Oyesanmi of Owonrosoki Primary School; Mrs Anthonia Ifeoma Okeke of Local Government Nursery and Primary School; Mrs Kehinde Adeleke Oyetola of Ayeroju Nursery and Primary School; Mrs Joy Ngozi Ikebukwu of Mosafejo Nursery and Primary School; and Mrs Janet Yemisi Akinluyi of Muslim Mission Nursery and Primary School.

    The club’s President, Mr Babatunde Jeje, said teachers should be recognised because of the crucial role they play in moulding young ones

    “I have special interest in teachers. They are moral builders. I thank you for nurturing and preparing us for the future. Teachers are doing good to the world just like Rotary is doing with its humanitarian services. This school complex (Oworonshoki) has been adopted by us. We will come back.” He added that his father was a teacher.

    The club also donated eight chalk boards each to Eva Adelaja Girls Junior and Senior Secondary Schools and the Muslim Junior and Senior colleges.

    Principal, Eva Adelaja Girls Junior Secondary School Mrs Abiodun Ibironke and her counterpart at Eva Girls Senior Secondary School Mrs Tofade Tomilola praised Rotary for the gesture.

    Mrs Tomilola was also full of praise for Ariyo, winner in her school, for his commitment to duty and being IT complaint.

    ”I was posted here last August. I observed that Ariyo had been active. He has a good mastery of his subject. We are proud of him,” she said.

     

  • Rotary donates two incubators to hospital

    Rotary donates two incubators to hospital

    The Rotary Club of Omole Golden, in conjunction with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (OSSAP-SDGS), has donated two incubators to Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital.

    Making the donation at the paediatrics ward of the hospital, the OSSAP-SDGS, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, and Rotary Club District 9110 Governor Mr Patrick Ikheloa, harped on the need for more philanthropists and clubs to join the onerous task of reducing maternal and child mortality in Nigeria. The donation was part of the club’s key service projects for the year.

    Mrs. Orelope-Adefulire, who was represented by the consultant to the (OSSAP-SDG), Dr Oyewale Adeoye, said studies have shown that the overbearing heat in recent time has led to an increase in the number of premature births in hospitals; a development which puts much pressure on incubators and phototherapy machines in public health institutions.

    She said her office, as part of its commitment to reducing poverty as well as maternal and infant mortality, was happy to partner Rotary Club of Omole Golden to provide the incubators for the hospital.

    The hospital, according to her, should make good use of the facility to ensure that the desired objectives of the donors, part of which is to save as many babies as possible, were achieved.

    “No life is worth losing and I would like to express our commitment to the preservation of lives, especially those of babies and urge the management of the hospital to make good use of these facilities,” she said.

    Cutting the tape to inuagurate the incubators, the District Governor said the importance of incubators in the preservation of lives, especially babies’ could not be overemphasised.

    He urged well-meaning Nigerians to join the club in promoting the ideals of service and making life more meaningful, especially for the poor.

    “You can see how touching it is to see that a baby that is 25 weeks old is not only delivered, but sustained knowing that without incubators their chances of survival is less than five per cent. I appreciate the Omole Golden for this unique opportunity and pray that more individuals and groups join in the onerous task of preventing infant mortality in the country,” he said.

    President, Rotary Club Omole Golden, Rotarian Titi Sunmonu, described the donation as the star project of her club, adding that maternal and infant mortality was one of the six focal areas of Rotary International, and the club was committed to the prevention of avoidable deaths of babies.

    Earlier, welcoming members of the club, the hospital’s Deputy Medical Director, Dr. Mercy Erivea-Kuti, thanked the club for the incubators.

    Dr. Erivea-Kuti said by the donation, the club was preventing infant mortality as a poor parent making use of the facility is saved about N500,000 which he could have paid out if he patronised private hospital.

    “Any parent whose baby gets into an incubator has been saved nothing less than N500,000 which is the minimum he would have paid in private health facility, but because it has been provided by the club, such parent would only need to procure the essential drugs for the baby,” he said.

    She said the hospital would continue to look forward to such interventions from time to time in order to ensure that as many infants as possible are snatched away from the jaws of death.

  • School wins Rotary quiz contest

    Eva Adelaja Senior Secondary School, Bariga, Lagos has emerged the overall winner in this year’s Inter- School Quiz competition organised by Rotary Club of Gbagada South held at the school’s hall.

    It beat seven other schools to win the trophy a second time. Others were Muslim Senior College, Oworonshoki, Arcdeacon Adelaja Senior High School, SMS Grammar School, Bariga, Ifako Comprehensive Senior High School, Gbagada, Ajayi Crowther Secondary School, Bariga and Augus Memorial Secondary School.

    Rotary International District 2110 Governor-elect Dr Wale Ogunbadejo, who presented the prizes to the winners, congratulated them on their performance. He advised the winners not to rest on their oars, and the others, to prepare well against the next competition. He likened the contest to sport, where there are winners and losers.

    Rotary Club of Gbagada South President Babatunde Jeje said the contest was held to promote education in the state,  help pupils learn.

    “We should come together to improve knowledge of the pupils. By so doing, we improve the society, ” he said.

    The quiz master, Bello Olasumbo, graded the pupils’ performance average.  He said the questions were not too difficult, adding that they needed further grooming in some topics.

    The time keeper Chris Ezefula also urged pupils to up their game, especially in mathematics.

    A member of the Eva Adelaja team, Abiola Adetumbi, an SS 3 pupil, said she was happy to win, though she was nervous at the beginning.

    “I think the government should support this competition to boost education,” she added.

    At the event was an American septuagenarian Mr Nelson Anderson, an honorary member of Rotary Club (District 5170) of Morgan Hill, California.

     

  • Rotary donates to Lagos schools

    No fewer than 600 female pupils of Immaculate Senior Secondary School and Mende Senior High School, Maryland in Lagos State, last week received packs of sanitary towels from Rotary International.

    District 9110 Rotarians for Family Health and AIDS Prevention Committee Coordinator Bola Oyebade said the organisation was concerned about the health challenges of the girls, many of whom are from less- privileged homes and might be able to afford sanitary pads.

    He said the programme was part of its yearly Family Health Week, adding the funding came from members’ contributions and donors.

    A member of the Committee, Benson Olusola, said some of the pupils lack the cash to buy sanitary towels and use old clothes and tissue paper, which could attract infection.

    Olusola, also the President of Rotary Club, Onigbogbo, advised the pupils to be studious to be of good use to themselves and the society.

    Vice Principal (Administration), Mende Senior High School, Mrs Magaret Olajide, praised the group, saying: “What Rotary has done is a good humanitarian effort.  I hope they will keep it up.”

    Sani Rashidat, an SS 2 pupil of Immaculate Senior Secondary School, thanked the club for the gesture.

    “I thank you and God bless,” she said.

     

  • Rotary trains youths, women in skills

    Rotary trains youths, women in skills

    The Rotary Club District 9110 has begun a three-week intensive training for women and youths.

    The empowerment programme in which 500 people participated began on November 14 and will end on December 3, at St Leos Catholic Street along Toyin Street, Ikeja Lagos. It was inaugurated by the Governor of the District, Patrick Ikheloa.

    Some of the skills the beneficiaries will learn include bead making, bag and shoe making, event planning and decoration, makeup, gele tying, catering and hotel management as well as hat and fascination making.

    According to Chairman of the Organising Committee, Taiwo Shonubi, the event was instituted to support people in becoming self-reliant and economically viable in order to survive the current economic recession.

    It was part of activities to mark the Club’s Economic and Community Development Seminar for the year. Resource persons were on hand to train and lecture many of the beneficiaries who turned out in their numbers to take advantage of the rare opportunity that will help them to gain knowledge of the handiwork of their dreams.

    Each club sponsored five participants.

    Another of their activities held the previous week was a seminar on Agriculture tagged “Transformation towards Agriculture”

    Chief Executive Officer of X-ray Farms, African farmer Mogaji, spoke on Agriculture Investment as an alternative income source. He called on all to leverage on available resources, stressing on the value of information and knowledge gotten from other sectors.

    He noted that sustenance is crucial to having cheaper quality food; and small-scale farmers can be helped by giving them quality input for their crop production rather than money.

    He also warned that government should not ban importation of rice at least for three years, but should focus on local production and develop more storage facilities.

    “Nigeria has signed many treaties that won’t allow them ban rice. But after government have intensified local production, they can then develop a roadmap to increase its tariff in the next five years. That way, they are supporting businesses and farmers to produce enough rice for the next three years, within which there would be enough rice to feed the nation.

    “Also, it is not that government has no good intentions on this, but climate change will affect rice production. Thus, there is the need to look into the organic approach and the process of food production.

    Head, Agricultural Department of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Maximus Okoye spoke on financing perspective in ensuring the needed transformation in agriculture.

    He noted that agriculture is pillar to industrial development. He praised the adoption of the different intervention programmes of the government, which he said has helped agric-business.

    Professor of Economics at Caleb University, Olufemi Oludimu gave a presentation  on strategies for marketing agriculture. He urged all to leverage on untapped opportunities and look into food exports.

  • Rotary holds family health programme

    Rotary International, District 9110, comprising Ogun and Lagos states, has held the fifth edition of its Family Health Week. To mark the occasion, various clubs engaged in projects to promote healthy living and lifestyles of individuals .

    The 25-member Rotary Club of Lagos Central took its philanthropic gestures to markets and other areas such as  CMS, Ikoyi, and Lagos Island.

    The flag-off of the two-day project saw consultations with nurses, and the demonstration of the use of protective items.

    Other programmes were family counselling, male and female condom distribution, diabetes and glucose level check; distribution of Vitamins A and C supplements, malaria screening and treatment; HIV tests; deworming of all children; blood pressure checks; distribution of common cold medicines and pain reliving medicines and distribution of mosquito nets.

    Although injections were not given, referrals were made to various hospitals for those with serious ailments. Those who availed themselves of the health check include high way sweepers, security guards, market men and women and a few from the corporate environment.

    President of the Club, Mr Vincent Adubor, who is the Director of Corporate Services at the Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers, said the clubs target was the masses, as there was need to take the project to those in the market place because many of them, due to their routine daily activities, don’t remember to test their blood pressure and sugar level as well as their general health condition.

    “There is need to create awareness of health conditions. People are now aware of what it takes to have a proper healthcare and we are glad at the turnout. Next year, we hope to have positive results from our talks and a larger turnout.”

    He noted that the club has a lot of prospects in terms of creating healthier communities, but is faced with the problem of manpower. He called on youths,between ages 25 and 35 to join the club.

    Similarly, the Rotary Club of Oregun visited the Palace of the traditional ruler and Olu of Oregunland, Oba Lamidi Olorunfunmi, where it presented 250 pairs of reading eye glasses for distribution to older members in the axis.

    During the visit, the Rotary District Governor Pat Ikheloa, charged the monarch on the need to ensure that cleanliness and general wellbeing is maintained in the locality.

    He said this year; people were checked for their Hepatitis B status so that they can get treated

    He added that  Rotary has redoubled its effort to ensure that polio is eradicated in the country.

    “We are doing our best and a lot of awareness has been made and our detective mechanism has been improved. Soon, we should expect a polio-free world.”