Nigeria, July 27, 2016 – A galaxy of eminent Nigerians, among them the Special Adviser to the President on Women Affairs, and former Lagos State Deputy Governor Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, and several top government officials of Lagos State on Sunday, joined the leadership of the Rotary Club District 9110, at the installation of Rotarian Titilayo Sunmonu as the 13th President of Rotary Club of Omole Golden.
The two-part event, which took place at Anchor Event Centre, Ikeja, also witnessed the raising of N20 million funds to finance the projects ahead of the club.
Sunmonu who said she has kicked off her activities with a Cervical/Breast Cancer screening and Vaccination for poor women in Iju-Ifako community, said about 1,000 school bags are on ground to be distributed free to public primary school pupils.
She said her greatest challenge remains retaining the overall best club of the district award, knowing that the dynamics of emerging the winner this year has become more rigorous.
She listed her projects in the year to include the donation of an ICT laboratory to Ajuwon Senior Secondary School, in Ogun State, the donation of reflective and other security gadgets to men of the Nigerian Police and several others, and called on well meaning Nigerians to partner with the club in the actualisation of the projects.
She thanked everyone who has volunteered to take up some projects, adding that the club would need more in making life more abundant for the less privileged.
Earlier, the Chairman of the event, Mr. Ayodele Aderinwale (MFR), said the challenge to help bring development to the grassroots is more germane today, than before because “we are living in a world where man is becoming increasingly selfish and greedy.”
He said the society will be a better place to live in, if one focuses on others rather than himself and where everyone assist one another. Aderinwale said the exit of Nigeria from the global list Wild Polio virus endemic nations might have been impossible without the contributions of Rotary International. He added that many schools have continued to benefit from water and sanitation interventions, literacy and education as well as conflict eradication and peace initiatives of the club.
Aderinwale, the Chairman of Justrite Superstores Limited, described Rotarian Sunmonu as a committed, dedicated and resourceful woman with a passion to help the less privileged in the society and congratulated Rotary Club of Omole Golden for “putting a round peg in a round hole.”
Earlier, the Immediate Past President of the club Mr Idowu Afelogun said the club has distinguished itself in the delivery of world class projects to its adopted communities, schools and other institutions.
He listed among projects earlier delivered by the club to include the rehabilitation of a block of four classroom to Ajuwon Senior Secondary School, Ajuwon, Ogun State, reclamation of 10 year old dumpsite in the school, presentation of a Rotary Four-Way signboard to the same school, donation of one incubator to General Hospital, Ifako-Ijaiye, donation of 300 school bags to a Iju Primary School, Fagba, Lagos, a Polio Eradication street awareness campaign and the presentation a Kick Polio Away signboard at the Ifako-Ijaiye Primary Health Care Centre among others.
He urged philanthropists and other corporate organisations to partner with the club in its desire to bring smile to the down trodden and improve the lives of the less privileged.
Among other dignitaries present at the event are the Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Chief Mrs Lola Akande, who was represented by Mrs Lola Fowler, former Commissioner for Education Mrs Oladunjoye, her Transportation Commissioner Mr Kayode Opeifa, and former Chief of Staff in the state Mr Olakunle Ojo.
Also at the event were captains of industries such as the National President of Association of Women Insurance Brokers Barr. Mrs Laide Osijo, the Managing Director of Sahara Group, Mr. Kola Adesina, and Managing Director of Abelinis Ltd Mr. Abiodun Oshinibosi among others.
