Rotary Club offers lifeline to indigent market women

By Bianca Iboma-Emefu

Rotary Club of Ojodu, Lagos, recently offered  interest-free loans of N100,000 each to  some indigent market women  to boost their petty trade.

The loans were presented to the women during the club’s 18th fellowship anniversary. President of the club, Rotarian Edwin Okon, who handled the affairs of the celebration, said the leadership and members of the club have  committed both time and resources to the service of  humanity since the inception of the club in March 8, 2005.

Okon reeled out programmes executed by the Club  within the 2022-2023 Rotary service year, which included the donation of hearing aid to Wesley School for hearing impaired pupils in Surulere-Lagos, medical outreach at Yakoyo community, Botanic garden for secondary school; free health insurance scheme for some families in Lagos, NECO fees for 18 children and other programmes like cervical screening for secondary school girls would be accomplished as the year progresses.

He charged all Rotarians not to stop doing good in the world as the essence of the club is rendering service to humanity.

Okon added that the event was not  his first major project since his investiture, adding that  each month the club executes a project that attracts members and sometimes dignitaries from the district as well as the people in the community.

Laying out his plans after he was inaugurated as the new president, Okon said he wanted to make a difference by improving on the existing projects. He explained that  the idea behind the  interest-free loan was to assist market women and female entrepreneurs grow their businesses, especially in this challenging period.

A past president of the club, Agbor-Paschal Onyejegbu,  praised members for their steadfastness and commitment to the ideals of Rotary and gave a brief history of the club and how it has fared for 18 years.

Onyejegbu said although the club started l about two decades ago,  it became officially chartered in 2005. He said:  “We believe in a world where Rotary members and participants have the leadership skills and knowledge to create positive change in their local and global communities.

“Our organization is home to many incredible leaders. The Rotary Fellowship of LEAD serves as an opportunity to bring together Rotarians, Rotaractors, alumni and friends of Rotary,  who have an interest in leadership and personal and professional development through events where we can connect and learn from each other. Rotary is a place of salvation,which he said implies whatever is a yearning of an individual interest Rotary connects you with a diverse group of professionals who share your drive to give back and is achieved through regular meetings and events.”

Highlights of the event was the award presentation to deserving members and some past presidents of the club, including Agbor-Paschal Onyejegbu,Okechukwu Uche-Uka, Armstrong Iwuajunwa, Jellily Efedi, Churchill Nwagwu and

Ezenwa Opara, who have continued to make huge contributions to society.