The Rotary Club of Ibadan Jericho Metro has inaugurated an Interact Club at Remescrown College, Ibadan, as part of efforts to engage young people in community service, leadership and humanitarian activities.
The newly inaugurated club comprises 29 members, with Melody Olatunji as President, Fiyinfunoluwa Oluwole as Vice President, Ebunoluwa Oluwole as Treasurer and Oyinkansola Oresanya as Secretary.
At the inauguration ceremony, members of the club were presented with bags, exercise books and membership certificates.
The Rotary Club, in collaboration with University Press Plc, also donated textbooks to the school library to support teaching and learning.
Speaking at the occasion, President of the Rotary Club of Ibadan Jericho Metro, Rotarian Omolara Oluborode, said the inauguration marked another step in the club’s commitment to developing young people who would grow into responsible leaders and agents of positive change in society.
Oluborode welcomed the new Interactors into a movement built on service, leadership, friendship and positive change, describing their induction as the beginning of a new journey in Rotary International’s youth service programme.
She said the programme would provide the students with opportunities to develop leadership skills while serving their school, community and the wider society.
She urged the students to lead by example, uphold integrity and embrace the willingness to serve with compassion, energy, courage and determination.
‘It would be fulfilling to see them grow from Interactors into responsible leaders and citizens who will make a lasting contribution to society,’ she said.
Oluborode assured the new Interactors of the club’s commitment to guiding, encouraging and supporting them throughout their journey.
Also speaking, the Zonal Coordinator, Bisi Yomi-Layinka, explained that Interact was a Rotary-sponsored club for young people aged 12 to 18 who come together to identify and address issues affecting their communities.
She said the name ‘Interact’ represented ‘International’ and ‘Action’, noting that the movement was about young people taking positive action to make their communities and the world better.
According to her, the new members had joined a global family of more than 500,000 Interactors in over 150 countries, united by the Rotary ideal of ‘Service Above Self.’
She thereafter formally inaugurated the Interact Club of Remescrown College into the Rotary International District 9126 family.
In her acceptance speech, the pioneer President of the club, Melody Olatunji, expressed appreciation to the school management, teachers, Rotary Club of Ibadan Jericho Metro and others who entrusted her with the leadership responsibility.
Olatunji said her administration would focus on teamwork, kindness, leadership, community service, academic excellence and friendship.
She noted that the club would encourage students to identify challenges around them and work collectively towards finding meaningful solutions.
She said, ‘Being the President of this club is not just about having a title. It is about service, leadership, friendship, responsibility, and making a positive difference.
‘As Interactors, we are young people with great potential. We may be students today, but we are also the leaders, professionals and change-makers of tomorrow.’
She assured members that their ideas, talents and contributions would be valued, adding that she would promote a collective leadership approach.