Honour, awards at Rotary Club of Oregun anniversary

History was made recently at the 30 years anniversary celebration of the Rotary Club of Oregun, District 9110, which was attended by the District Governor, Dr. Dele Balogun; District Governor-elect, past District Governors, past presidents and members of the club at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja Lagos.

The chief celebrator was the 30th President of the club, Henry Kingsley Ibhade, who was surrounded by club members to cut the huge anniversary cake.

Honour also went to a past president, the Sasore of Ilesha, Chief Olatunde Ishola Aluko, who was installed as the Doyen of the club, while awards also went to Past District Governor, Chief Michael Olawale-Cole, Dosumu Felix Ademuyiwa, David Obasi Nwachukwu and Adenrele Tasheed Shinaba.

The anniversary was preceded by a week-long activities, which include Health Day programme for members of Oregun Community who benefited from free eye-test, blood sugar test, kidney test among others, handled by MeCure Healthcare Limited; commissioning of water project for the community; career vocational talk; road safety talk with members of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW); donation of clothes, food stuffs and toiletries to Ozanam Home for the Destitute among others.

In his welcome address, Ibhade said the presence of the dignitaries and every other participant at the celebration would ever remain in his memory.

“Rotary Club of Oregun was founded in February 23, 1985. Today, we are witnessing the 30th Anniversary of the Club, the journey that started as if it was yesterday with the first President, Remi Adeoye of blessed memory who also was a charter member.

“As Rotary International is celebrating its 110 years of existence, we are also celebrating 30 years out of it. It has been 30 years of success story, serving humanity and touching lives through Rotary.

“We will continue with meaningful projects to help the society especially, programmes that focus on the poor and the maginalised. Such programmes include maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, water and sanitation, economic and community development, disease prevention and treatment, peace and conflict resolution” he said.

Balogun in his address described Rotary Club of Oregun as one of the oldest clubs that has stood the test of times.
“Thirty years celebration of the club today coincides with the 30 years of eradication of polio all over the world of which today, we are 99.9% successful. Rotary Club of Oregun has been very active in the eradication of polio and Primary Health Centre, Oregun has become a testimony of the success of the Rotary Club” he said.

He appealed to all the past presidents and all the ‘retired’ Rotarians of the club to come back with a view to augmenting the current number of members put at 20.

The Chairman of the occasion, President, Nigerian Science Academy and former Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe congratulated Rotary International for the battle against polio and recommended the adoption of Rotary 4-Way Test to Nigeria to combat corruption.

The Keynote Speaker, Director General and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Ziakede Akpobolokemi wished every Nigerian to be a Rotarian and suggested diversification of Nigeria economy to include maritime, agriculture among others.

Other guest speakers were Past District Governor, Dr. Deinde Shola and Editor, Sunday Vanguard Newspaper, Mr. Jide Ajani.
In his response and appreciation, Aluko promised to woo past presidents of the club with a view to making their impact felt in the club henceforth.