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By Izunna Nkwachukwu
The Rotary Club of Ikate, District 9112, has unveiled a N29.25 million community intervention plan for the 2026–2027 Rotary year, signalling a shift towards deeper and more measurable impact as the club marks its 40th anniversary.
The projects, spanning healthcare, education, environmental sustainability, youth and women empowerment and peacebuilding, were unveiled at the club’s combined investiture, fundraising and Ruby Jubilee ceremony held at Eko Club, Surulere, Lagos, over the weekend.
The occasion also witnessed the installation of Rotarian Dominic Chukwuemeka as the club’s 40th president.
Speaking after his installation, Chukwuemeka, a life coach and principal consultant at Heart Affairs Consulting, said his administration would prioritise depth and measurable results rather than the number of projects executed.
Under the theme, “Service Above Self, Impact Above All,” he said the administration would build on the contributions of past presidents while focusing on projects capable of producing lasting benefits in Surulere and neighbouring communities.
“It is a privilege, and I will not take it for granted. Rotary has never been about one person; it has always been about people of action coming together to make a difference.l “Our goal this year is not measured by the number of banners we raise or ceremonies we hold, but by the number of lives transformed. We will pursue fewer projects with greater depth and measurable impact,” he said.
The project portfolio includes N4 million for healthcare and medical outreach programmes; N3 million for education support, school refurbishment and student development; and N4.5 million for the renovation of toilet blocks at a government secondary school.
Also earmarked are N1.8 million for an inter-secondary schools quiz competition, N1.5 million for food and toiletries for orphanage homes, N700,000 for tree planting and community clean-up initiatives, and N2.75 million for youth and women skills-acquisition programmes.
The club will further spend N7.5 million on secondary school library renovation and school-bag distribution, N2 million on pregnancy kits for expectant mothers and N1.5 million on peace and conflict-prevention seminars.
The installation also provided an opportunity to reflect on the club’s four-decade journey, dating back to its first organised meeting in June 1986.
Past District Governor Bola Oyebade described the milestone as a reflection of decades of grassroots service, citing the club’s interventions in medical outreaches, scholarships, water projects and school renovations.
“This is a milestone that deserves to be celebrated — 40 years of sacrifice, fellowship, leadership and service to humanity,” Oyebade said.
He charged the new administration to consolidate the club’s legacy by deepening community impact, strengthening fellowship and attracting a new generation of Rotarians.
Installation Committee Chairman, Rotarian Isaac Ero, said the club’s four-decade legacy should be measured not merely in years but in the lives it has touched and opportunities it has created.
According to him, the club’s presence in Ikate, Surulere and surrounding communities has been defined by “lives touched, opportunities created and hope restored.”
The Ruby Jubilee celebration also featured the recognition of prominent personalities, including Chairman Ebubedike George Obi, Guest Speaker Rotarian Gbenga Awokoya, Chief Launcher Ikenna Ekeagu and global art ambassador Prince Yemisi Shyllon.
With Chukwuemeka now at the helm, the Ikate Rotary Club enters its 41st year with a stated emphasis on translating its four-decade legacy into targeted interventions across schools, healthcare facilities and vulnerable communities.
