Gbagada Rotary Club empowers 50, renovates laboratory

SONGS of praise rent the air at the premises of Star Micro Finance, Ososa in Ogun State as the Rotary Club of Gbagada in Lagos, renewed its micro-credit facility for over 50 persons in a scheme that began in 2009.

  The President, Rotary Club of Gbagada (2014-2015), Prof. Olukayode Taiwo described the ninth edition of the micro- credit scheme, categorized under “Economic and Community Development” as one of the ways the club has chosen to address the challenges of increasing poverty in various communities, including Ososa. 

  “This project is funded by the Rotary Club of Gbagada in collaboration with Rotary Club of Ann Arbor North, District 6380, United States of America (USA),” he said. 

  Past Assistant Governor, Ayo Onafuwa traced the history of the scheme back to when some members of the club visited him in USA, which was witnessed by members of the Club of Ann Arbor North, District 6380, who admired the rapport, believed in the sincerity and integrity of the members of the club and therefore, decided to collaborate with the Rotary Club of Gbagada in Nigeria by initiating the micro-credit scheme with the sum of N1 million.   

  He urged beneficiaries to use the money judiciously and make prompt repayment.

 The District Governor, Rotary International, District 9110, comprising Lagos and Ogun states, Dr. Dele Balogun, lauded the scheme, urged the beneficiaries to use the money to trade and comply with the terms of repayment to justify the retention of the money in the town.

 The Managing Director, Star Micro Finance Bank, Hector Fakayode, said N1 million with which the scheme started has increased to N1,518,000.00. Alhaja Afolashade on behalf of the beneficiaries thanked the Rotary Club of Gbagada and demanded that the grant be increased from N50,000.00 to N100,000.00.

 In a related development, the club also commissioned a renovated Ago-Iwoye Secondary School science laboratory, which Prof. Olukayode Taiwo put the cost at N5,391,500.00.

  Balogun assured the club would equip the science laboratory and the Rotary International District 9110’s readiness to assist indigent but brilliant students of Ago-Iwoye in line with its scholarship programme.   

 He lauded the creation of Rotary Club of Ago-Iwoye Metropolitan and heralded the District Governor’s readiness to give artificial limbs to amputees as well as assist those having cataract in Ago-Iwoye to undergo surgery.

 The Commissioner for Education, John Olusegun Odubela, lawyer, represented by Mrs. Osho Olukoya, described the renovation as a welcome development.

  The Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, Oba Abdulrazak Adenugba lauded the project and pleaded with the school management to ensure maintenance culture and preserve the renovated laboratory.