The Rotary Club of Ilorin Prestige has inaugurated new leadership that will pilot the affairs of the Club for the year 2024/2025 Rotary year.
Rotarian Olaoluwa Bankole was inaugurated as the new President of the Club. The inauguration was held recently at a colourful event which took place at Princess Luxury Hotel, Ilorin.
The programme featured award presentation on some prominent members of the Club who have contributed in one way or the other to the success of the administration of Rotarian Kehinde Adebobola Obaniyi who led the Club for 2023/2024 Rotary year.
The awardees included Rotarian Gbenga Olaifa, Rotarian Ayo Olagunju, Prince Samuel Oluwafemi, Rotarian Yetunde Fatoyinbo, Rotarian Omolola Dare,
Rotarian Oluwaseun Ayinla, Rotarian Olaoluwa Bankole, Rotarian Mrs Adepeju Obaniyi, Rotarian Antonia among others.
“I stand before you today with immense gratitude and a profound sense of responsibility as I accept the role of the 5th President of the Rotary Club of Ilorin Prestige for the Rotary year, the Magic of Rotary 2024-2025. First and foremost, I thank Almighty God for this opportunity and for the strength and guidance that have brought us here today.
Our club, proudly known as “The Pride of Rotary,” has always been a beacon of service, dedication, and excellence. It is this spirit that has guided us through the years and will continue to inspire our future endeavors”, said Rotarian Bankole in his acceptance speech.
“As we embark on this new Rotary year with the theme “The Magic of Rotary,” I am guided by our club’s five-year strategic plan focused on Community Impact, in alignment with Rotary International (RI) and district goals”, the President added.
Rotarian Bankole listed his vision for the Rotary year which include club development through the support of the internal Rotary community by fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual understanding as well as improving membership and retention through targeted initiatives that engage and inspire members.
He also promised to implement projects that address pressing community needs and create lasting change and strengthening partnership with local organizations to amplify the impacts of Club.
“Expand our reach: Raising awareness about Rotary’s mission and activities to attract new members and supporters. We are going to leverage social media and other platforms to share our successes and stories. We will ensure that all members have meaningful opportunities to contribute and grow within the Club. We will also provide training and development programmes that equip our members with the skills and knowledge to lead and serve effectively”, he said.
“Together, we will continue to uphold the legacy of our club, making a difference in our community and beyond. I am excited about the journey ahead and confident that, with your support, we will achieve great things. I humbly acknowledge that I am not immune to making mistakes, but I assure you that I will be an attentive and receptive leader, seeking guidance from our esteemed district leaders as mentors”.
For his part, the immediate past President of the Club, Rotarian Kehinde Adebobola Obaniyi, said despite economic challenges, in the country, his administration was able to accomplish laudable goals during the 2023/2024 Rotary year.
According to him “A thousand mile journey starts from a mile. Immediately I came on board, I lined up a lot of projects to be executed for humanity. However, despite the dearth of fund, my team was able to accomplish some of the goals we set. Some of which are.
“We have distributed anti malaria drugs and mosquito net to the pregnant women at Civil Service Hospital GRA Ilofa road Ilorin in commemoration of the monthly theme Maternal and Child Health. We have done a family funfair and inauguration of Rotakid Executives. We have executed the Club’s Retreat Programme. We have a jointly engaged in clean up campaign with other Rotary Club in Kwara State in Partnership with Kwara State Ministry of Environment and Kwara Environmental Protection Agency at the Oyun River Illegal Dump Pollution Site. We have undertaken Peace Lecture and World Peace Day walk in partnership with other rotary club and the NSCDC (WORLD PEACE AND CONFLICT RESOLUTION).
“We distributed educational materials and career talk to three schools which include our Interact Club Federal Government College, Ogidi, Ilorin, Ilorin Grammar School Ilorin and Gbagba Junior Secondary School Ilorin. We jointly engaged in World Polio Day Walk with other Rotary Clubs in Kwara state. We did Women Empowerment and Support to the school of special needs during the investiture ceremony and luncheon of the 4th President of the Club, two grinding machines were given to two women, three sewing machines were given to three women and cash gift was given to two women to support their businesses, food items were given as support to the school of special needs.
“We have jointly organized a Peace and Conflict Prevention resolution seminar in partnership with other Rotary Clubs in Kwara State at Offa Grammar School Offa Kwara State. We have jointly engaged in District 9125 Special Committee on blood donation free screening and sensitization on blood management in partnership with NYSC and Kwara State Medical Laboratory Scientists celebrating National Blood Donor Day. We have a series of lectures on the various themes of the month all throughout the Rotary year include Maternal and Child health: The bedrock for National Development, Membership: The core of Rotary Healthy Existence, Membership Retention and Inclusive Club Culture and development through membership among others”.
Rotarian Obaniyi added membership strength of the Club had also increased within the year under review.
He appreciated members of the Club who had contributed in one way or the other towards the success of his administration.
“I owe some of our members sincere gratitude for their financial support throughout my Rotary year, please permit me to specifically mention names, in person of Rtn Dr Prince Oluomo 1 Oluwagbenga Olaifa and Rtn Dr Khadijat Toyin Musah for their support to pay up our dues at Rotary International”.
The inauguration ceremony was well attended by eminent personalities including members and leaders of Rotary Club in the state.