An Alumnus of the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, Rotarian Shoyoye Festus, has been inaugurated as the second president of the Rotary Club of Ewutuntun Prestige in Rotary International District 9111. He took over from Rotarian Adaobi Izekor, who has completed her tenure.
At the event last weekend in Ikeja, Lagos, Izekor said she was overwhelmed with joy that, as the chartered president, she had played her part in laying the foundation and was handing over a solid club to Shoyoye.
She said the club that won many laurels at the district could compete with others that are over 40 years old. She attributed her achievements to the support she got from members of the club.
She thanked them for their support and urged them to extend the same to her successor. ”I have the confidence that you will succeed,” she told Shoyoye, adding that she would always provide her assistance.
Chairperson of the Investiture Committee, Olayemi Akingbulugbe, said the event was two fold: the hand over and a fundraiser for the projects and programmes. ”Let us remember that every contribution and investment in service will make a difference,” she pleaded.
The highlight of the event was the handing over of her insignia of office to Soyoye amid applause.
This was presided over by the District Governor’s representative, Assistant Governor Obafemi Obadina. It started with a citation of the celebrator, who was described as a devoted family man, who is married to omolara, certified printer and an entrepreneur who has his hands in many pies in the business world.
Shoyoye, who had danced his heart out earlier supported by his family and friends, while moving to the front of the hall to take over, expressed happiness in taking over as the second president. He pledged to serve with his might and take the club to a higher level.
However, he sought the support of his colleagues to succeed. He is targeting projects worth N255million with the building and equipping of a library at the cost of N200million at Ojota Junior Secondary School as his star.
Others include community development/empowerment N15million; Basic education and literacy N7.5million; Maternal child health N7.5million; and Peace and conflict resolution NN4.5million;water sanitation and hygiene provision N8 milion.
The guest speaker, Pastor Moicahel Ibiwoye,who was represented, said the success of Soyoye’s administration should not be measured only by the number of meetings, programmes organised, or activities held, but rather by the lives he touched, people helped, and communities transformed.
He said by the end of his administration, ”you should be able to say children received hope, families were lifted, communities experienced development, young people discovered opportunities, and people who needed helping hands found them through Rotary. And I’ll be able to express that”.
He added: ”This is the true meaning of purpose-driven leadership. Then we come to the purpose before the position. Every successful organisation needs a clear sense of purpose. Position without purpose becomes mere administration. Position without purpose becomes waste, waste. But when leadership, resources, and purpose come together, transformation becomes possible.
”As Rotarians, we must remember that we are not here merely to belong to an organisation. We are here to make a difference. And the difference comes in terms of: our membership must translate to action, our meetings must produce ideas, our ideas must produce projects, our projects must produce measurable impact, and our impact must produce hope, which is the big smile.
”Now, the power of collective action is coming together as Rotarians. One of Rotary’s greatest strengths is its ability to bring people and resources together. One person may have an idea, another may have financial resources, another may have professional expertise, another may have connections or access to government and communities. When these strengths come together under a common purpose, individual capacity becomes collective impact.
”I, therefore, encourage Rotary Club of Ewutuntun Prestige to continue building strategic partnerships with government, businesses, professional organizations, NGOs, communities, and individuals.The challenges confronting our communities are too great for one person or organization to solve alone. Partnership is the currency of sustainable development.
”Then, the fundraising challenge. Fundraising is not begging; it is giving people an opportunity to become part of something meaningful. When you support a humanitarian project, you are not simply giving money-you are giving a child hope, giving a family dignity, and giving a community an opportunity to progress.
I therefore appeal to everyone present today: let us support this club generously. Give according to your capacity, give cheerfully, give sacrificially, and beyond money, let us also give our time, expertise, network, influence, and other resources. Together, we can make a greater-a bigger difference.
”Then, a charge to the new president. A charge to the new president. Pastor will tell you-I’m equally a deacon in the church-but they will tell you that if you want to do the work of God, you must recharge the battery. You must recharge the battery as a Rotarian. You must also-you will face some challenges, and before you face that challenge-challenges, when you recharge the battery, you will stand the test of time to face those challenges.
”Rotarian Shoyoye, I leave you with three words: Vision, Unity, and Impact.
Vision here is to have a clear picture of what you want your administration to accomplish.
”Then Unity: carry your members along, listen, build bridges, create an atmosphere where every Rotarian feels valued and has the opportunity to contribute.
”Then Impact: at the end of your tenure, let people be able to say, ‘Because Festus Shoyoye served as president, something good happened here.’ That should be-that should be your legacy,;” he said, urging the club members to support their president.
At the well-attended event were Rotarian Bukonla Alamu, immediate past president, Rotary Club of Ewutuntun, the mother of Rotary Club of Ewutuntun Prestige,and her husband; a delegation of the district, club presidents and key Rotarians.