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Donates boreholes, computers, holds medical outreach
By Gbemisola Akinola
The Rotary Club of Ago Palaceway, Okota has earmarked six major social impact projects and initiatives it will execute within the current Rotary Year 2025/2026, which will end in June next year.
Speaking at the event to mark his formal investiture as the 4th United President of the Club, Rotarian Patrick Onyeka Okongwu, who took over the baton of leadership from his predecessor, Mr Kelvin Amah, laid out the specific projects he said would be executed during his tenure.
Noting that Rotary International, through its affiliate clubs, has built a solid global track record of service to communities, leaving visible footprints and earning enormous goodwill, Okongwu said his tenure would sustain the strong bond established with people within the catchment area of the club and, while still actively supporting the global impactful work of the organisation.
While unveiling the six key projects, he assured that they would all be achieved during his one-year tenure. The projects cover social amenities, educational facilities, scholarships, training opportunities and economic empowerments targeted at indigent women, youth and school children.
His words: “To start with a lot of women suffer issues and die, most times unnecessarily. So during our family health day celebration, we will intervene in that regard. This is because good health is the most important thing we need because everything we do is a function of good health. Without this, we can’t do anything. So among all, maternal and child healthcare is my top priority. We have scheduled to visit maternal health clinics in Ago Palaceway and the communities within the vicinity to pay bills for child delivery for at least 20 indigent women. We have budgeted to spend N2 million on this.
“Second in my heart is to sponsor at least 20 youths in our community to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) in partnership with schools at the cost of N1 million. We shall be offering scholarships and supply of books and stationery to at least 10 indigent school children, at a cost of N0.5 million. In addition, we shall donate computers to four secondary schools within our community at a cost of N5 million.”
Being a firm believer in economic and community empowerment, Okongwu said up to 30 indigent women and men would be trained on various skills such as IT, carpentry, beauty therapy, tailoring and hairdressing. He also disclosed that a seed capital and relevant equipment, totalling N9 million to enable them to start off after their training, would be provided.
Availability of clean potable water and having a clean environment (sanitation) are both indispensable for good health. In this regard, Okongwu said the club would drill boreholes, pumps and overhead tanks for select indigent settlements within Ago community at the cost of N3 million. To detect and prevent full manifestation of diseases, and bring succour to underserved indigents within the community, the club plans to hold free medical/vision care outreach to meet the needs of indigent persons in the Ago Palace and Okota communities at an estimated cost of N5 million.
Peace and harmony are vital for progress. To foster peaceful coexistence within the community, Okongwu said: “We intend to organise a seminar on conflict prevention and resolution for Ago Palace/Okota residents and stakeholders within the community.”
He explained that keynote speakers would be drawn from among the community leaders, iyaloja, Muslim and Christian leaders, at an estimated cost of N2 million.
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Alluding to the theme, “United For Good,” Okongwu enjoined the government to eliminate encumbrances that slow down the progress, whenever the Club approaches Ministries, Departments and agencies of government for partnership. “We used to approach government agencies for collaboration whenever we want to embark on any humanitarian services in the society, but it doesn’t go smoothly from that particular moment. We urge the government to lend that needed support, because what we are doing is to ameliorate people’s plight. To my fellow Nigerians, let’s keep fighting, don’t give up, tomorrow is brighter.”
Immediate Past President, Mr Kelvin Amah, in his remarks said: “There is no limit or restricted area for Rotary Family as long as impacting lives is concerned. From providing potable water, sanitary kits for female students, free healthcare, sensitisation programmes, empowering women entrepreneurs, and sanitation.
“During my tenure 2024/2025, we did two medical projects on the Rotary Family Health Days in partnership with District 9111, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and United States Agency for International Development, in October 2024 and March 2025.
“During my tenure, a lot of our members travelled to Canada, Singapore and Belgium for a cross-pollination and fertilisation of ideas and connections during the international convention to advance the cause of the family’s projects.”
Amah called on Okongwu to be resolute, firm and forthright, saying: “He should not allow the club to die, we shall support him. He should be resilient, focused and display perseverance because it has never been easy. I believe he will execute the unfinished projects on the table.
“The government should wake up to its responsibilities, and abolish unnecessary bureaucracy and other bottlenecks when we approach them for collaborative projects. They don’t usually make things easy for us; we don’t know what they are afraid of. They rather should show eagerness when civil society organisations approach them to help provide some services to citizens.”
Newly inducted members of the Club who expressed enthusiasm said they were inspired to join Rotary because of the great works Rotarians have been doing over the years. To them the acts of kindness shown to the least persons in the society are the greatest service anyone would render to their Creator.
An inductee, Chief Ikechukwu Azomaukwu, said the ideals of the Rotary made him join the club. As an altruistic fellow, he saw his alignment with Rotary Club as an avenue to make more significant impact. “From childhood, I have been helping people around me. Now I want my benevolence to go beyond my immediate environment. I want people far from me to benefit from my sacrificial services as God helps me.”
Azomaukwu, who expressed optimism over the group achieving its proposed projects, affirmed that the administration of Okongwu would be accountable, transparent and enthrone probity. “Nigerian youths, especially the graduates, must learn new skills beyond their academic qualifications. We should embrace peace and unity. With these in place, there will be progress,” he assured.
