Past District Governor of Rotary International District 9110, Kola Sodipo, has urged well-meaning Nigerians to empower the less privileged with the skills, knowledge and resources needed to become self-reliant and contribute to sustainable development.

Sodipo made the call while delivering the keynote address at the investiture of Abiodun Jaiyeola as the 20th president of the Rotary Club of Lekki Phase 1, held last weekend alongside a fundraising ceremony for the club’s 2026/2027 projects.

He said sustainable development could only be achieved when people in vulnerable communities were given the means to improve their lives.

Sodipo urged Rotarians and other well-meaning Nigerians to think globally while acting within their communities, noting that local interventions could have far-reaching effects.

“We strengthen the foundation of our neighbourhoods through the eradication of polio and the provision of water. We see resilience and boundless potential in our people, but we also see challenges that demand our attention,” he said.

He added that mentoring young people, sharing business skills and supporting local enterprises were practical ways of creating lasting impact.

Sodipo also challenged Nigerians to contribute to national development regardless of their positions.

“As Rotarians and friends of Rotary, we have the collective power to reshape our communities into places of thriving innovation. You don’t have to be a politician or government official to create lasting change in the country,” he said.

Jaiyeola pledged to lead as a servant leader and prioritise projects that address identified needs in the community.

He said the club’s flagship projects for the new Rotary year would focus on healthcare and education, including the provision of hospital beds and the upgrading of schools.

Jaiyeola disclosed that a needs assessment conducted at the Primary Health Centre, Ajah, informed the decision to provide about 20 hospital beds for the facility.

He added that the club would also provide a library, physics laboratory, borehole facilities and solar lighting, among other interventions.

Chairman of the Investiture Committee, Rotarian Abiodun Owoeye, thanked Rotarians, friends of Rotary and partners for their support and attendance at the event.

The ceremony also featured the induction of two new members, while one of the guests won a business-class ticket courtesy of Uganda Airlines.