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Tag: ROTARY

  • Rotary Club donates books to schools 

    As part of its social responsibilities, the Rotary Club of Hilltop in Calabar has donated books, pens and pencils worth N300, 000 to secondary schools in Cross River under its 2013 literacy project.

    The benefiting secondary schools are Government Secondary School Henshaw Town, Calabar, and Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Adiabo.

    The President of the club, Dr Ani Etokidem said the donation was one of the ways through which the club supports education and to reach out to the needy in the society.

    Etokidem said the educational materials would help to upgrade the academic performance of the students.

    According to him, Rotary Club believes in educating the youth because they are the future leaders of tomorrow.

    “If our youths are educated and empowered, it will go a long way in reducing the rate of social vices in the country,’’ he said.

    Also speaking, Dr Charles Onianwa, South-South District Governor of the club, said one of the objectives of the club was to help students to achieve their set goals in life.

    Onianwa also said this can only be possible if the students are provided with adequate learning materials that will enhance their academic performance.

    He urged the students to make good use of the materials given to them, even as he advised the students to take their studies seriously.

    Mrs. Patricia Tawo, Principal of Government Comprehensive Secondary School Adiabo, and Mrs. Offiong Okon of Government Secondary School Henshaw Town, both thanked the club for its wonderful initiative.

    In the same manner, the Rotary Club of Tinapa, Calabar donated exercise books and other learning material worth N200, 000 to Special Education Centre Secondary School Calabar.

    The President of the Calabar-Tinapa Club, Mr. Stanley Nwosu, said that the donation was part of their literacy projects in the state.

    Nwosu further said the learning materials would go a long way in improving the learning ability of the students.

    The principal of the school, Mrs. Felicia Ufot, commended the club for the donation.

     

     

  • Rotary to build bus stop shelters

    Rotary to build bus stop shelters

    The Rotary Club of Abuja International District 9125-Nigeria has promised to build at least 10 bus stop shelters in Abuja. The promise was made by the 30th president of the club, Yemi Adekoya at her acceptance speech following her investiture.

    He said the shelters would be at the Federal Secretariat, Area 10, Area 11, Gimbya Junction, NPOST Junction, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Radio House, and the Finance.

    He also promised to embark on the beautification and maintenance of a selected round-about in the city centre and bearing the icon of Rotary’s  four way test.

    Adekoya added that the club would also render “assistance to the motherless babies homes, public schools, and drugs/medicine equipment supplies to rural public hospitals/clinics.”

    The new rotary president noted that there would be job/skills acquisition programmes for youths in the host communities.

    He said that there would be provision of water through boreholes and dug wells for rural communities.

    He said the various projects may appear too ambitious to be accomplished within his limited tenure of one year, by Rotary International Mannual Procedure, he, however, noted that, “I believe  that our agenda can be accomplished not just by my efforts alone, but by the collective participation of each and every member of the club and the collaboration of every well-meaning citizens of the FCT.”

    Adekoya explained that as a practising Insurance Broker and Risk Management Consultant, service is what he has been rendering to the nation and humanity.

     

  • Rotary, Gates to raise $35m for polio

    In its quest to step up efforts towards eradication of polio worldwide, Rotary International and its partners including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation hope to raise up to US$35 million per year through 2018. This initiative, the partners believe, is to build public support for the historic final push now underway to wipe out this disabling viral disease once and for all.

    In Chicago, where the humanitarian service organisation was founded in 1905, Rotary and Northwestern University’s Center for Global Health will convene an international panel of experts to discuss the progress of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which Rotary co-launched in 1988. The event, ‘World Polio Day: Making History’ was streamed live to a global online audience at endpolionow.org from Northwestern University’s John Hughes Auditorium, 303 E. Superior St., Chicago, beginning at 5:30 p.m. CST last Thursday.

    Rotary clubs in Lagos, Nigeria, under the leadership of PDG (Dr) Tunji Funsho, Chairman Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee, partnered with the Cycology Riding Club of Nigeria to do a six-hour relay bicycle ride penultimate Saturday to promote World Polio Day and the national immunization rounds set for early November.

  • Rotary promises free healthcare for community

    The Rotary Club of Victoria Garden City, Ajah, will carry out projects that will impact positively on the lives of residents of the area.This promise was given by the newly installed president of the club, Mrs Victoria Kuteyi Ogundemuren at her investiture.

    She told Newsextra that Rotary was poised to execute some projects so that lives of the people can change for the better.

    She said: “During this period of my presidency, I will be looking at so many projects here at our community in Ibeju Lekki. We have provided water for them; we have equipped schools with learning materials and other essential things.

    “I will want to concentrate more on improving the health of the people because I am a nurse. I will work toward the eradication of polio. We still have polio among us, it such a big challenge because some people have been crippled because of polio.

    “We are going to give glasses to those who cannot make good use of their sight. We will do surgery to those who have glaucoma, to take some cataracts out. I am going to continue the school programme.

    She stated that education being one of the concerns of Rotary,will be given priority her administration. “The club has been giving dictionary every year to pupils, so this time around; we are going to do more to keep the legacy.

    “My decision to continue this legacy stems from the fact my family befitted a great deal from what Rotary has done to the people. Again, my mother was a giver, she brought us up to be givers and it is in view of this tradition that we should continue to give and assist those who are desirous of help in whatever form or the other.

    “My father was in the Army. He was a giver, so we must continue giving because it is said givers never lack. In terms of education, a lot of students don’t speak good English, so we must see to how we can help them out. That is what informed the dictionaries we are giving out to them on yearly basis. So with the dictionary you can build your vocabulary.

    “In the past when I was a student, we used to read dictionary from page to page which places us in a vantage position in terms of our expression of English Language. But these days, they are no longer very serious about their studies and the standard has actually dropped. So, whatever we can do to help improve education we will do without hesitation .”

  • Rotary donates to police, community

    he Rotary Club of Ikorodu Metropolitan has donated a 10 kva generator to the Area N Police Command, Ijede a suburb of Lagos.This is in fulfilment of its cardinal objective of making life better for the rural populace while serving humanity.

    The donation, according to the president of the club, Rotarian Kamaldeen Adedeji is to boost the morale of the police and make their working environment conducive to effective discharge of their duties effectively.

    The club also donated pipe borne water to the Bagidan community area of Ijede, Ikorodu.

    “It gladdens my heart because it is one thing to serve and another to see that your dreams come to true. We thank God for making today a reality, we have given the Area N police command a 10 kva generator for the betterment of their performance, we decided to give them the generator because when we visited the police station, it was very appalling; we felt that for somebody doing the kind of their job, a job of securing the lives of people, they need a conducive environment for them to be able to work effectively,” he said.

    Receiving the Rotarians was the Area N Police Commander, Mr A O Markus who said he was grateful to the club for extending a hand of fellowship to them.

    He promised that his command would extend its vigilante programme in the area as a way of showing appreciation for the donations.

    “It is a wonderful thing they have done for us, we are so happy about it, we are impressed and encouraged and we are going to do wonderful job around the Area N Command, we are going to show appreciation by our performances,” he said.

    He said the condition in his office before the donation was not conducive as it was stuffy and because of the epileptic power supply in the area, but now a new life has just been introduced with the generating set from Rotary.

    The delegation was led by the District Governor of Rotary International Club District 911 Nigeria, Rotarian Olugbemiga Olowu.

    In his words, he promised that the club would continue to do everything possible to help the police perform its functions effectively and ensure peace continue to reign in the area and Lagos State at large.

    “We must all work together to ensure peace and security in our areas, we will continue to work with the security forces to ensure that our lives are save,” he said.

    Given reason for his visit to the Ikorodu club, Olowu said it is a routine thing they do every year to access the various clubs’ performance level.

    “Every year the district governor goes round the clubs to know how the clubs are performing, the strength and weakness of the club and over advice to the president and members of the club so that they can make their clubs stronger; the Ikorodu club had lived to expectation even beyond because we in Lagos think that they are not doing anything in Ikorodu but today I know they are doing wonderfully well,” he said.

     

     

     

  • Rotary to train youths in skills

    Rotary Club of Lagos West has promised to execute projects that will change the lives of youths and other social miscreants through its vocational and skill acquisition programmes scheduled to take place later in the year.

    The club’s president, Mrs. Elizabeth Bakara at a dinner with reporters, said the training was aimed at developing the youths and taking them off the streets in view of the challenges they face in securing gainful employment.

    She stated that part of the training would include adult literacy class that could further enhance their knowledge of how to manage their talent . “This is in line with Rotary International policy of ensuring growth in communities and that is why we are doing this to those under our areas of operation.”

    She noted that the training would make them look inward on how to better their own lives by being independent instead of searching for jobs that are non-existent.

    She explained that during the Rotary calendar year under view,the club would sink boreholes, donate medical equipment at Festac Health Centre and award scholarship to five indigent students.“We are going to equally empower five outstanding vocational students, the entrepreneurship seminar for youth and undergraduate will assist them not to roam the streets,”she said.

    She further stated that the club would visit inmates at the Kirikiri prison, where they would be counseled and told how to live a better life having served their terms of imprisonment.

    The club president stressed that in the course of its activities seminars would be organised in tertiary institution of learning and papers would be delivered on peace building and conflict resolution.

    “There is the need to embark on community health programme, cervical screening, breast screening, blood pressure check, donation of toiletries and the unveiling of the four way test plaque.”

    She maintained that the project would cost the club over N1.5 million but noted that most of the fund would be given by donors and public spirited organisations.

  • Rotary donates drugs to community

    The Rotary Club of the Victoria Garden City, Ajah, Lagos State, has donated drugs and other medical supplies to the Ajiran Health Centre and Ikota Primary Health Post.

    The President of the club, former Central Bank Governor, Chief Joseph Sanusi said the gesture was to assist those who could not afford medical bills in the society.

    He stated that what the club did is Rotary’s way of contributing her little quota to societal wellbeing, through the provision of drugs and other medical essentials that would enhance human’s good health.

    He said: “What we have done is to see how we can assist the less privileged in the society and one of the things we can do is to see to how the people can get free prescription and supply of drugs. Some people cannot afford the drugs prescribed to them and in the long run it has some negative impact on their health. As part of our objectives, we have to do something to put smile on their faces.”

    He said it has become a tradition for the Rotary Club of VGC to enhance the health standard of people living within its area of jurisdiction. “We were here a few years ago to give the people drugs and medication in this clinic. It is our joy that we are able to make some contributions to the welfare of the people through this effort.”

    Sanusi maintained that government alone could not meet the needs of the people and urged similar humanitarian bodies to rise to the occasion by assisting in any little way they could.

    “Those who have the wherewithal should come out to see what they can do to support government efforts in providing essential basic needs. It is not easy for government to do everything no matter how generous they try to reach every segment of the society.”

    He expressed the belief that when non governmental organisations support what government is doing through similar assistance, the grassroots and those that ordinarily could not be reached by government would be reached and the impact of government responsibilities to them would be felt.

    Responding on behalf of the Eti Osa Local Government, Mr. Olatunde Agbaje said the Rotary Club has been making much impression in the area and therefore thanked them for their efforts so far.

    “It is my hope that the reason behind the donation will be fulfilled. Since the under privileged were the purpose for the gesture, the drugs and other medical facilities given to them will be utilised for the purpose. I hope that the staff at the Primary Healthcare who have the materials in their custody will do what the club provided the drugs for.”

    Agbaje stressed that adequate publicity would be made to enable members of the public patronise the health centres for the free drugs. “They must ensure that the drugs are given out free because they were supplied free to assist those who cannot pay for drugs or take care of their medical bills.”

     

    Other members of the council who were at the presentation of the medical supplies agreed that Rotary club of VGC has been of tremendous assistance to the community.

     

  • Rotary honours President

    The AUN President, Dr Margee Ensign, has been honoured at the Rotary International District 9125 conference in Abuja.

    Rotary is a worldwide organisation of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service and encourages high ethical standards in all vocations. The 1.2 million Rotarians, who make up more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in nearly every country share a dedication to the ideal of service above self.

    Ensign, who gave a talk on Pathways to Peace, was named a Paul Harris Fellow “in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world.”

    Ensign received the Rotary’s Distinguished Service to Humanity Award “for your wonderful support to our District in terms of financial, moral and developmental projects during the ‘Peace through Service’ Year.”

    Located in Yola, Adamawa State, AUN is recognised as a centre of educational excellence in Nigeria and throughout the continent. Founded in 2003, AUN is Africa’s first development university. It is inspired by the founder’s vision that knowledge acquired must be applied to benefit all peoples

  • Rotary and the unsung side of Sir Emeka Offor

    Rotary and the unsung side of Sir Emeka Offor

    History is being made today in Abuja as the Group Executive Vice-Chairman of The Chrome Group, Sir Emeka Offor, will mount the stage for induction into Arch C. Klumph Society by Rotary Foundation. In this piece, our Managing Editor, Northern Operation, YUSUF ALLI, reveals the untold story of businessman’s philanthropy.

     

     

    Far away from his misadventure into politics, the reticent Group Executive Vice-Chairman of The Chrome Group, Sir Emeka Offor, will be honoured today by both District 9125 of Rotary International and Rotary Foundation. The high point of this historic event is the induction of Offor into Arch C. Klumph Society, an exclusive society meant for those who have passed the threshold of making a single donation of over $250,000 to Rotary Foundation. He becomes the fourth Nigerian to attain the feat. Other past inductees are: a former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; a former Minister of State for Education, Rotarian Kenneth Gbagi and a past Assistant Governor Mike Omotosho.

    For Offor, the induction is the icing of the cake for a stream of silent charity works he had executed and promoted. To earn an induction nod from Rotary Foundation, the oil magnate had donated over $500,000 to Rotary Foundation to emerge as the biggest individual donor to the Foundation in Africa . The District Governor of 9125, the amiable Rotarian Felix A. E. Obadan, captures the mood of today’s historic event in Abuja as follows: “We are honouring Sir Emeka Offor as a district because he has done Africa proud by being the biggest and highest contributor to Rotary Foundation from Africa.”

    Born in Kaduna to a policeman from Oraifitte in Anambra State, Offor went through the pains and pangs of barracks life to be a stakeholder in Nigerian oil industry. Armed with only a secondary school certificate from Abbot Boys’ Secondary School, Ihiala in Anambra State in 1977, he bestrode the business sector at an early age such that by 1983( six years after leaving secondary school), he had secured a N19million contract which gave him a breakthrough into mega ventures.

    Today he presides over a chain of companies, including Chrome Oil Services, which had handled the turn-around maintenance of Port-Harcourt refinery in the past; Chrome Air, a charter airline which is on retainership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Chrome Radio; being a co-owner of the defunct African Express Bank, (Afex Bank) and a director of Niger Insurance, amongst several other companies. He is also linked to a Houston, Texas-based oil company EHRC Energy, Environmental Remediation Holding Company (ERHC) and huge oil exploration in Sao Tome . He has interests in Oil and Gas, Insurance, Power sector, Telecommunications and Logistics, both in Nigeria and overseas.Other subsidiaries of Chrome Group include Kaztec Engineering Limited, Global Scansystems Nigeria Limited, Chome Insurance Brokers Limited and Interstate Electrics- the newest subsidiary of the Chrome Group which secured the bid for Enugu DISCO.

    But the initial gains he made in business were almost lost to what turned out to be his misadventure in politics between 1998 and 2003. With huge resources at his disposal and desperate to protect his business interest, Offor had in 1997-98 formed the Movement for National Stability to join the league of those encouraging Nigeria’s foremost dark-goggled dictator, ex-Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha to transmute from a military leader to a civilian President. When the self-succession agenda failed, he became a major financier of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and a political godfather through whose platform ex-Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju rode to power. But before the end of Mbadinuju’s tenure, the political son fell out of favour with Offor. It was an investment which almost cost Offor his image and ruined his business. By 2003, Offor was one of those who funded the second term campaign of Obasanjo. Except for tactical diplomacy, the strain in the relationship between Obasanjo and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar almost affected Offor’s businesses. The row led to the emergence of Chris Ubah and Andy Ubah as the new godfathers of Anambra politics.

    But Offor’s setback in politics has been recouped in philanthropy. He is Numero Uno in charity and with the way he is going, he would soon assume the status of Bill Gates of Africa . A Knight of the Catholic Church, he allegedly single-handedly funded the tarring of Oraifitte-Nnewi Road . He also believes in quality education and empowerment. He once said: “Without education, the people cannot create their own solutions. If they cannot create their own solutions, they cannot escape the poverty imposed on them”.

    According to findings, his humble background and suffering motivated him to go into philanthropy, a terrain where his charity works were hardly noticed by Nigerians. He was once quoted as saying: “I want to make my mark. Actually, I want to make two marks. One is that I have been an excellent businessman who built a group of companies that will stand the test of time. Two, that I have been as good at giving as I was in turning a profit. In my own way, I hope to set an example for the next generation of successful Nigerian businessmen. I want them to know that they can make money while also making a difference.”

    On its website, the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation(SEOF) said he has “so far committed over N750 million (USD 4.9m) to charitable projects.” Though unlettered and hardly audible, Offor has made up for his deficiencies by asking his Foundation to pursue the following schemes: Youth Empowerment Scheme ;Widows Cooperative Scheme; Education Scholarship Scheme; Health Scheme Services and Infrastructure Development Scheme.

    The Foundation’s synopsis of Offor’s Midas touch on the poor and indigent reads: “Lack of health care haunts the poor and Sir Emeka seeks to bring basic care where there is none. Nigeria is one of the few nations where polio still exists, mostly afflicting poor and distressed populations in parts of northern Nigeria . When polio is finally rendered extinct and the crippling disease’s final chapter in Nigeria is written, SEOF will be cited as a hero in this needed fight. On October 24, SEOF gave $250,000 to Rotary International to help Rotary in its role as a lead partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. In providing the funds, Offor stated: “It is unacceptable that polio continues to infect our children and cause such suffering in Nigeria . The flight against glaucoma is another important health care initiative of the Foundation. Acutely aware of the hidden danger glaucoma poses to a growing portion of the world’s population, Sir Emeka Offor established a $100,000 glaucoma research grant at the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Mainz , Germany , and has established a Nigerian fellowship for Cataract Surgery and Glaucoma Management at the same university.

    “Sir Emeka has also joined with Rotary International to promote conflict resolution and peace. His foundation recently provided the Rotary Peace Center at the Chulalongkorn University in Thailand another $250,000. The sum will provide an endowment for practitioners and activists from sub-Sahara Africa in disciplines such as public health, education, rule of law and social justice. The dual purposes of the fellowship is to enhance future recipients’ substantive knowledge in their respective disciplines and to encourage them to adapt this enhanced knowledge to promote social harmony and conflict resolution in their communities and nations. This contribution can be an important catalyst toward promoting peace in Nigeria with its ethno-religious and regional diversity.

    “Sir Emeka believes poverty is the harshest obstacle facing most Nigerians. He has quietly and methodically positioned the Foundation to tackle this steep challenge in many ways. One is through community-based projects for human capacity building and skills acquisition. Widows are a group particularly vulnerable to poverty. In many traditional societies, widows have scant rights to the marital property once shared with their husbands.

    “Apart from the emotional trauma of losing a loved one, widows can be cast into poverty because of this lack of legal protection. This is especially true for widows who did not work outside the home prior to their spouses’ passing. The Foundation seeks practical solutions to mitigate this inequality by forming women’s cooperatives, a pilot initiative already started in Sir Emeka’s home village in Anambra State. These women’s coops train participants to be economically self-sufficient by teaching various money-making skills and trades such as learning to process palm kernel oil for sale, acquiring tailoring and hairdressing skills and learning how to manage a small business.

    The citation added: “Working on the principle that the very poor and needy can become active and productive members of the society if properly equiped, the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation is committed to human and material capacity development; skills acquisition and transfer at the grassroots level leading to the establishment of small and medium enterprises(SME)and cooperative societies, for the less-privileged.

    “Acutely aware of the hidden danger Glaucoma poses to the growing portion of world’s population, the Sir Emeka Offor through his foundation established a $100, 000 Glaucoma research grant at the Department of Ophthalmology University of Mainz, Germany and also established a Nigerian fellowship for Cataract Surgery and Glaucoma Management at the same university.

    “Sir Emeka Offor, a member of the Rotary Foundation, who recently was elevated to the status of an Arch C. Klumph Society (AKS) member of the Foundation as a result his singular donation of $250, 000 USD for Peace Studies at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand and another donation of $250, 000 USD for polio eradication. He has also indicated his intention to donate an additional $250, 000 USD for guinea worm eradication, and another $250, 000 USD for women empowerment programmes of the Rotary International”.

     

    What the induction is about

    The District Governor of 9125, Obadan, said the “induction is a way of acknowledging philanthropic deeds.” A brief on the honour says: “The Rotary Foundation provides special recognition to Rotarians and friends of Rotary who contribute $250,000 or more to The Rotary Foundation by inducting them into the Arch C. Klumph Society. Members may have their portraits displayed in the Arch C. Klumph Gallery at Rotary International’s World Headquarters in Evanston , Illinois , USA . Donors receive a certificate signed by the President of Rotary International and the Chairman of The Rotary Foundation, and they are invited to a special event at annual RI conventions. The society is named in honour of The Rotary Foundation’s founder, Arch C. Klumph.

    “Arch C. Klumph Society members’ photographs and statement of support for The Rotary Foundation are recorded on a touch screen kiosk at Rotary International World Headquarters. The touch screen kiosk is portable and on display at major Rotary events such as the International Convention and International Assembly.( ( Arch C. Klumph Society Members are among The Rotary Foundation’s top leaders and innovators. Members believe in the work of The Rotary Foundation and have made supporting peace, education, and humanitarian assistance part of their personal mission. They are key supporters of the Foundation, and their involvement is vital to its work.

    “Arch C. Klumph Society members support The Rotary Foundation for a variety of reasons. With their help, the Foundation is fulfilling Rotary’s promise of creating a polio-free world. Children and families are living healthier lives through the Foundation’s humanitarian grants programme. Educational and cultural exchange programmes are helping young people build lasting friendships and mutual understanding with their peers around the world. Members’ support enables tomorrow’s leaders to live and study together as Rotary World Peace Fellows and provides them the opportunity to begin building a more peaceful world.”

     

    What is next for Offor?

    Will this induction be the last word from Offor? For many years, he had disappeared from political radar and he makes less news in the social circle. But Nigerians won’t stop asking: What is he up to? Certainly, the charity works have given Offor an international leverage. The honour from Rotary Foundation and District 9125 is an abiding testimonial and a challenge to other money bags who are spend thrift.

     

  • Rotary seeks peaceful co-existence

    Rotary seeks peaceful co-existence

    The answer to Nigeria’s security challenges lies in peaceful co-existence.

    That was the message of the Rotary Club of Agege (District 9110,) as it contemplated the country security worries.

    Sobriety and displeasure were written all over the club’s President, Rotarian Linus Adaba’s face as he revealed his club’s concerns over the development. That was why the association mounted its current caompaign, ‘Peace through Service.’

    Former President, Rotary Club of Egbeda, Rotarian Tijani Shuaibu who was at the GRA, Ikeja where Adaba had an encounter with Newsextra, also seethed with agony while sharing Adaba’s worries over the rate of mindless killings and other crimes in the land.

    “We can’t but urgently re-orientate Nigerians now on the need for peaceful co-existence,” Shuaibu cut in.

    With them in the peace-seeking tête-à-tête included a Hausa man and an Igbo man who hanged on Adaba’s lips as he “ministered” to them passionately on the crying need for peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.

    A leading figure in the nation’s financial sector, Adaba who is now a decade old in the charity organisation, disclosed that in 2002, his Rotarian friend, Friday Adebudo, encouraged him to join the Rotary. It was when the latter just returned from an international convention in Barcelona.

    A smile was nowhere on his mien while the encounter lasted. In fact, he revealed to Newsextra that he had had countless occasions to shed tears while brooding on the exacerbating plight of the deprived lot in the country.

    The Kogi State-born economics expert, firmly believes that whether you belong to Rotary, any other charity body or not, if one has the wherewithal, one must have the heart for the less-privileged around him. “The entire life is about human inter-dependence. As a child, you are dependent on your parents; when you are grown up, some will depend on you for some succour and when you grow old, you need some people to depend on; that is how life is. As a student of economics, the free market enterprise cannot make everyone equal in terms of our needs. Some people find themselves in some awkward situations by no fault of theirs while for others, it’s by accident. Therefore, if you are lucky to be privileged, you must have a place for such people in your hearts for a better society; you must have a passion for some level of charity,” Adaba said.

    Exuding appreciable sense of fulfillment, he recounted some of the project he had been executing in the current Rotary Year. His words: “We have been executing projects in line with the current aspirations of the Rotary International, our parent body. They include eradication of illiteracy, reduction of infant mortality, empowerment of women and others including peace project. We donated incubators to the General Hospital, Ifako-Ijaiye and the one on Lagos Island Maternity where we also donated treated mosquito nets to pregnant women. We graduated 25 students in a vocational school where we provided them with sewing machines with which they could start a meaningful life with what they learnt. We bought grinding machine for a blind man. He is happy today and we are still in touch with him. As we speak, no fewer than 60 people have enjoyed our micro-credit empowerment scheme. We have an ongoing scholarship for Miss Grace Oladele of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.

    In the second half of the Year, Adaba hinted: “We will be embarking on eye projects possibly including eye screening, treatment of glaucoma and eye cataract cases and giving out of eye glasses to patients especially in Agege area. Looking at this country today, it is obvious that we are not at peace and this resonates aptly with our peace project which is now centred on spirited advocacy to restore peace and understanding among us. Without peace, there cannot be any meaningful economic development in the country.

    “As a business person, I know that there are many investors who are unwilling to come into this country because they see ours as a terrorist state owing to the unmitigated killings, kidnappings and bombings going on. Look at the northern part of the country, the onslaught by the Boko Haram sect is a major headache for the government and the people. And the whole saga gets more troubling when the killings are taken to a suicidal level. Some people have been indoctrinated to the extent of killing themselves alongside others. Those who indoctrinated them are not being fair to themselves, the victim and the larger society. This must be discouraged and that is a major mission of the Rotary in the current Year.”

    In exasperation, Adaba blew hot when asked to comment on the place of the government in the entire scenario. Hear him: “It is sad that our government at all levels has been found wanting in terms of ensuring good life for the masses of our people in particular. Look at the level of unemployment among youths; look at how much is being budgeted yearly without translating to anything for the people; all these breed frustration and discontent and the resultant effect is what is now staring us all in the face.”

    His recipe: “Let every political party make free education at all levels an inviolate policy. When people can read and write, they won’t be a willing tool in the hands of any body. Their minds will be insulated from any indoctrination. In fact, the peace we are now preaching in the Rotary, if it will be necessary, will find ready hears because people can then read paper and understand news. The government of the day must make it a sacred duty to tackle unemployment problem whichever way it can.”