Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged Nigerians to embrace the culture of selfless service in line with the ethos of the Rotary Club to make life meaningful to others around.
He made this known recently at the Presidential Library in Abeokuta during the pioneer convention of the Rotary Club, District 9111. The occasion was also used to unveil Bukola Bakare as the District Governor-designate.
“Before you go to bed every day, always take a pause and ask yourself what am I doing for others? What are other people benefiting from me? What am I doing like the Rotary Club to make life more comfortable for others,” Obasanjo, who was represented by his wife, Bola, stated.
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The former president noted that the World would be a better place if everyone would imbibe the theme of love, service and consider helping one another to surmount life difficulties, just as it is being advocated by the Rotary Club.
“It is not just by word of mouth that the Rotary Club is doing so much to help humanity, it is what is obvious to all, the good work of the outgoing District Governor of Rotary Club, District 9111, Oluwole Kukoyi and his wife, Olusola Kukoyi, is another testament to the love of humanity by this special club”, he said.
Dapo Abiodun, Ogun State Governor, urged the Rotarians to renew their commitment to the club’s ideals of empowering communities and changing lives in a World where empathy is increasingly becoming scarce.
Represented by Noimot Salako-Oyedele, the Deputy Governor, Abiodun noted that some of the club’s interventions in the State are the Rotary Prostate Cancer Centre at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu and the Rotary Eye Centre at the General Hospital in Otta, in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, among others.
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Bakare, the DG nominee, who is the first female President of the Rotary Club of Ikeja, GRA, Lagos State, expressed excitement at the opportunity to further serve humanity. She noted that a lot still needed to be done when it comes to selfless services and making the country attain its enviable heights.
Oluwole Kukoyi, the outgoing DG, emphasised the need for Rotarians to keep making positive impacts in their various localities.
Stephanie Urchick, President, Rotary International, urged Rotarians to keep pursuing initiatives and projects that would enhance World peace, and challenged members to double up on efforts of the club to eradicate polio across the World.
Represented by Eric Kimani from Kenya, Urchick urged the Rotarians on membership growth as they remain innovative and committed to attracting the youth into the Rotary club.