Rotary Club of Akowonjo Spreads Development Projects in Alimosho

By Omolabake Fasogbon

Rotary Club of Akowonjo under Rotary International District 9110, on Monday August 16, 2021stormed Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos in its usual style spreading humanitarian services to impact lives and the environment with the commissioning of renovated blocks of classrooms and tree planting at State Senior High School, Alimosho by the District Governor Rotarian Remi Bello (FCA) as the high point of the event.

The club whose aim is ensuring that society witnesses positive development, embarked on this exercise to mark the official visit of the District Governor, Rotarian Remi Bello (FCA) for the 2021/2022 Rotary year under the club’s leadership of Rotarian President Comrade Victor Amaraegbu.

In an interview by journalists, the District Governor, Rotarian Remi Bello (FCA) stated that

the Rotary Club of Akowonjo has gone the extra mile in ensuring that the Rotary International standard is upheld despite the global economic downturn owing to the raging Covid-19 pandemic.

According to him, “although Rotarians, the world over have had their own share of financial challenges with regards the Covid-19 pandemic, I am glad we are able to tackle that to make sure the club’s dream remains intact”.

The visitor to the club admonished that “the commissioning of the school to support education and tree planting in support and beautification of the environment as part of the seven areas of focus of Rotary International were just tips of the iceberg compared with the grand plans we are about to execute” adding that “I am sure Rotary Club of Akowonjo will do more in the years to come,” he assured.

In his own reaction, the President of Rotary Club of Akowonjo, Rotarian Victor Amaraegbu disclosed that the club has been known for its humanitarian guestures for thirty six years of its existence and development activities in its catchment community, Akowonjo-Alimosho.

Speaking with reporters, Rotarian President Victor Amaraegbu said “let me make this clear, this is not the first time we are embarking on projects commissioning in our community, we have been doing so for thirty six years now”. “It has been known as our annual rite to give back to the society”. “It is not about the millions we are spending annually on humanitarian services but about the awareness we are creating for people to learn how to share love and develop the society with the little they have”. “We are not getting any financial reward in return but happy making positive impacts and developments in our community,” he stated.

As part of the District Governor’s itinerary, the club paid a courtesy call to Alimosho Local Government and proceeded to Rauf Aregbesola Nursery and Primary School, Akowonjo, where it donated qualitative books to students of the Adult Literacy Programme which the club has been sponsoring for over twenty five years.

Also as part of the club’s programme was a visitation and donation of generous gift items at the Little Saints Orphanage, Shasha and a royal visit to the King of Egbeda Kingdom, Oba Aremu Orelope Kareem Laka, inducting him a honorary member of Rotary Club of Akowonjo.

The president of the club admonished children of the Little Saints Orphanage to aspire to the highest level in their lives and not see themselves as disadvantaged because they have many parents in the pubic spirited organisations and individuals that cater for their needs on a daily basis. He assured the children and management of the orphanage of the club’s continued support for as long as it is in existence.

In the same vein, Rotarian Comrade Victor Amaraegbu told the Elegbeda of Egbeda, Oba Aremu Orelope Kareem Laka that the club will not relent on its oars at always ensuring that its projects are evenly spread across the whole of Alimosho Local Government area.

In his response, Oba Kareem Laka was full of praise for the Rotary Club and other humanitarian organisations for partnering with the government to improve society and requested for more social and developmental interventions in his domain for the benefit of Nigerians from far and wide.

As part of the classroom commissioning ceremoney and tree planting exercise at the State Senior High School, Alimosho, the District Governor espoused on the philosophy of Rotary which he simply summed as giving and continuous giving to society.

As Rotarian Remi Bello puts it, “we give not because we are extreemely rich but because we simply made up our minds to give”. He, therefore, extended an invitation to the school’s management staff, Lagos State representative at the event and students to embrace the Rotary philosophy and join the club to better society.

The District Governor’s entourage later attended the club’s Board of Directors meeting where he gave the club a very high mark in their strategic and articulated plan for the year and a sumptuous reception at the residence of Past Assistant Governor (PAG) Dr. Olukayode Akinlade, a charter member and past president of the club.

The District Governor’s visit was rounded off with a club’s fellowship at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos where two new Rotarians were inducted as the latest addition to the teaming membership of the club.