The Rotary Club of Port Harcourt has unveiled 24 community development projects for implementation across Rivers State as it installed Dr Aniete Udoh as its 55th President for the 2026/2027 Rotary year.

Udoh said the projects were designed to deliver sustainable impact in line with Rotary International’s seven Areas of focus, including peacebuilding and conflict prevention, disease prevention and treatment, water, sanitation and hygiene, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, community economic development, and environmental sustainability.

He noted that the interventions align with Rotary International’s vision of improving lives through selfless service, adding that the Rotary Foundation continues to invest millions of dollars annually in Nigeria and across Africa on life-changing initiatives such as polio eradication, immunisation, education, healthcare and economic empowerment.

According to him, the 2026/2027 Rotary year theme, centred on creating lasting impact, underscores the need for deliberate and sustained efforts in executing projects that directly address community needs.

Udoh said his administration had outlined 24 projects aimed at improving the people’s lives and making the society better.

Among the proposed interventions are conflict resolution programmes at the Cheshire Home, Port Harcourt; the upgrade of the dialysis centre and provision of additional dialysis machines at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH); a public health lecture, eye screening and distribution of 200 medicated glasses to drivers at Bori Motor Park; distribution of 200 mosquito nets to residents of Okrika and Abuloma waterfront communities; construction of a solar-powered borehole with a 40,000-litre storage tank in Umuebo Community, Etche Local Council; donation of starter packs to 100 pregnant women in selected riverine communities; and distribution of back-to-school packs to 300 pupils in riverine areas.

He expressed appreciation to God and members of the club for the confidence reposed in him, pledging to provide purposeful leadership and ensure the successful execution of the projects.

Speaking at the ceremony, the immediate past President of the Rotary Club of Port Harcourt, Echezona Onwughalu, assured the new leadership of members’ unwavering support, describing Rotary leadership as a continuum.

He urged members to actively support the new administration through financial contributions, volunteer service and participation in fellowship and project commissioning activities.

“If the members do not support the president, little can be achieved. Support in terms of donations, time and participation is critical because the more we contribute, the more impact we make,” he said.

More than N50 million was realised through freewill donations by Rotarians during the inauguration.

 Awards were also presented to several past presidents in recognition of their outstanding contributions to humanitarian service and community development.

The event attracted dignitaries from the banking sector, government institutions, the organised private sector, professional bodies, as well as members of the diplomatic and business communities, many of whom pledged support for the club’s humanitarian programmes.