Daud Olatunji
The Rotary Club of Abeokuta Metro, District 9111, has officially installed Abiodun Ogundaini as its 23rd President during an investiture ceremony that highlighted the club’s commitment to sustainable community development.
The event, held in Abeokuta, gathered dignitaries and community leaders who stressed the importance of community engagement and strategic interventions for societal betterment.
Guest Speaker Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, represented by Dr. Tokunbo Salako-Oyedele, delivered a thought-provoking lecture titled “Sustainable Solutions for a Better Society.”
He emphasized the critical need for community involvement in the planning and execution of projects.
Dr. Olohungbebe cited a case where, despite the Rotary Club and government efforts to combat malaria in a local community, the residents misused the mosquito nets provided by using them for fishing instead of protection against mosquitoes.
This incident, he argued, revealed the importance of understanding community needs and behavior before implementing interventions.
“Rotary and the government invested in free medical exercises to combat malaria, but it was later discovered that the root cause of the malaria outbreak was not being effectively addressed,” he said.
He called on the Rotary Club to conduct thorough community assessments to ensure that their well-intentioned projects achieve the desired impact.
Dr. Olohungbebe also touched on the state of education in the region, lamenting its poor condition and urging the Rotary Club to continue its support for quality education.
He praised the club’s leadership and members for their dedication to humanitarian services.
Engr. Ola Sobande, the Chairman of the occasion, echoed these sentiments, commending the Rotary Club for its impactful projects.
He pledged his support for future initiatives and encouraged more people to join the club, highlighting its role in improving the quality of life through various humanitarian efforts.
In a conversation with journalists, Senator Lanre Tejuoso extolled the Rotary Club’s commitment to service, likening their work to that of diligent politicians who complete their constituency projects.
“Rotary is all about service,” Tejuoso remarked.
“They complete their projects, and if Rotarians become politicians, we can be assured there will be no abandoned projects.”
District Governor Oluwole Kukoyi (2024-2025) advised the new leadership to establish a strong foundation for the club’s future endeavors.
“A firm and strong foundation will ensure that future leaders can build upon what has been achieved,” Kukoyi said, urging continuity and resilience in the club’s operations.
In his acceptance speech, the newly installed President, Abiodun Ogundaini, outlined the club’s key focus areas for his tenure, emphasizing water sanitation, cataract surgeries, and the construction of boreholes and toilets in schools.
Ogundaini highlighted the severe issue of open defecation in schools, which contributes to the spread of cholera, and pledged to tackle it head-on.
“We are determined to address these challenges,” Ogundaini said.
“By providing proper sanitation facilities, we aim to reduce the incidence of cholera and other related diseases in our schools.”
Additionally, Ogundaini said the club has organized peace and conflict resolution programmes, particularly in areas plagued by unrest, and to combat the rising menace of drug abuse among the youth.
“Drug abuse has become a prevalent issue, and we are committed to reducing it to the barest minimum,” he asserted, pointing to the alarming number of young people admitted to the Aro Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital due to substance abuse.
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