Rotary Opens Opportunities: The World Must Know What We Do – Jumoke Bamgboye

The first female Governor of Rotary in Nigeria, Rotarian Chief Mrs Jumoke Bamgboye has charged members to make the world realise the narratives that rotary opens opportunities and grow its membership.

She gave the charge at her investiture as the 12th District Governor of Rotary International District 9125 that comprises about 135 clubs across 23 States of the Federation and the Federal capital, Abuja.

Bamgboye said, “let us tell our Rotary stories – the world must know that we do. How can we work to end hunger, eliminate disease or treat it? We build schools and provide shelters, promote literacy, develop and empower communities, eradicate and reduce maternal deaths, protect planet earth, yet we keep our stories to ourselves.

” Let us tell our Rotary stories for there are many out there who need to hear these stories to join us. For when we grow our membership, we will by extension grow our foundation through more giving.”

Quoting Michelle Obama, she said, “for any door that’s been opened to me, I have tried to open my doors to others” as she posited that, “let us invite one another in. By doing so, we can begin to fear less, to make fewer wrong assumptions and let go off biases. Rotary opens opportunities.”

Accepting her election as District Governor, she said, “I accept the trust you have placed in me and pledge to add value to our rich history.

In his remark, the chairman of the occasion, Mallam Yusuf Olaolu Ali (SAN) challenged members of the club to use the four- way test of Rotary as enough to change our country and continent for better.

Calling on Nigerians to imbibe the Rotary four- way test, he said it is the only antidote to make the country move in the right direction as most of the vices afflicting Nigeria today like insecurity, kidnappings, extortions, corruption and others would nod rare its urgly heads if we deal with ourselves in truth, fairness, just and peaceful understandings.

He eulogised the new District Governor as a goal getter who has been able to effectively combine her matrimony in Col. Theophilus Bamgboye’s home with her career as a lawyer working hard at the bar and now at the Kwara State bench wishing her a successful tenure.

Earlier before handling over, the outgoing Governor, Rotarian Dr. Victor C. Onukwugha gave an account of his achievements which included making Nigeria polio- free as well as donation of over N10million Personal Protection Equipments (PPE) to assist the Government in the wake of coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria among several others.

Describing the investiture of the first female as historic, he said the Rotary International has delivered on its mandate.

During the event, awards of recognition were given to the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), first lady of Kebbi and Plateau States as well as the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Responding on behalf of FRSC, Corpse Marshal Boboye Oyeyemi lauded Rotary International contributions to humanity, promising that it would spur the commission into doing more to save lives in the country.

The first ladies of Kebbi and Plateau represented by a Special Advuser and Commissioner from their States responded in thesame vein.

The Executive Governor of Kwara State was represented at the occasion by the Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi.

Several monarchs like the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Abdulraheem Oladele Adeoti, members of his Council of Chiefs, the Representative of the Emir of Ilorin, Exexutive members of Omu- Aran Development Association. While almost all the past Governors of the District and other elected structures since its creation in 2009 were present to support the investiture.