Nigerian public health expert and Harvard University fellow, Dr Olakunle Ajayi, has assumed office as President of the Akure Ala Lions Club for the 2026/2027 Lionistic Year, promising to focus on measurable community service under the theme, *”Impact That Counts.

Ajayi, who recently received the prestigious Spring 2026 Rose Service Learning Fellowship at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, will lead the club from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

Speaking after assuming office, he said his administration would prioritise projects that deliver tangible benefits to communities.

“We have before us an opportunity to redefine what is possible,” Ajayi said.

“Let this be the year we turn good intentions into measurable action, individual commitment into collective strength, and service into impact that counts.”

He said the club would work with members, partners and the wider community to build on previous achievements while expanding its service programmes.

Ajayi succeeds the previous leadership after serving as the club’s First Vice President during the 2025/2026 Lionistic Year.

The Akure Ala Lions Club has produced several leaders within Lions Clubs International’s Multiple District 404 Nigeria, including Past District Governor and current Multiple District Council Chairperson, Lion Adekunle Adedipe.

Ajayi’s emergence comes shortly after he was selected for Harvard University’s Spring 2026 Rose Service Learning Fellowship, one of the institution’s competitive public health fellowships.

Under the fellowship, he will lead research in Ekiti State to assess the readiness of primary healthcare facilities and identify barriers preventing communities from accessing essential health services.

The project will combine health facility assessments with community consultations to generate evidence for improving healthcare delivery and supporting policy decisions.

Ajayi has more than a decade of experience in health systems strengthening across Africa and has previously worked with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Rose Service Learning Fellowship supports graduate students undertaking community-based public health research aimed at addressing pressing health challenges and translating research into practical solutions.