Rotarian Oluwadamilola Rachel Akintunde-Abioye, (Mrs) PHF, handing over to Rotarian Lekan Oni as President, Rotary Club of Akure for Rotary Year 2021/22 at the Rotary Civic Centre, Igbatoro Road, Akure, Ondo State Capital, on Tuesday, June 29, 2021
- Hands over to Rotarian Lekan Oni as President Rotary Club Akure, amid encomiums
- I will build on achievements of my predecessor – Incoming President
Rotarian Oluwadamilola Rachel Akintunde-Abioye, (Mrs) PHF, on Tuesday completed her one year tenure in office as the President of Rotary Club of Akure amid encomiums for what members of the Club generally described as her superlative performance.
Simultaneously, she handed over the leadership baton to Rotarian Lekan Oni, who promised to build on the achievements recorded by his predecessor.
Ringed around by many past top officials of the Rotary Club at the Local, District and International levels, she handed over to her successor at exactly 7.48 pm after presenting a moving Valedictory Speech, at the Rotary Civic Centre along Igbatoro Road, Akure, the Ondo State capital.
At separate interviews with The Radiance, the top officials and other Club members generally showered praises on the outgoing President for her exemplary leadership style.
They included the incoming President, Rotarian Lekan Oni; Rotarian PP Ologundudu Rotimi; Rotarian Ogunlebi Stephen; Rotarian Adeyemi Robert; Rotarian Omodayo S .O alias Bishop; PAG Lanre Balogun; Rotarian PP Desola Alabi; Rotarian Ibrahim Olamide; Rotarian Bunmi Falodun from Akure Metro Club, Akure; Rotarian PDS Dayo Omotoyinbo; Rotarian AG Kelvin Meyeyin; Rotarian PP Dr. Dele Oludare; Fellow of Rotary International and PHF, Rotarian Christabel Nkechi Nnaemeka, popularly called CNN; Rotarian Town Planner Amodu Idowu Emmanuel, a colleague of the outgoing President in the Ondo State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development; and Rotaractor Adeniyi Omolola Elizabeth.
In her moving Valedictory Speech, Rotarian Rachel Akintunde-Abioye reeled out the achievements recorded by her administration in the past Rotary Year. She said that “A day was once born and finally came to an end in the evening”.
Her words: “Permit me to use this opportunity to humbly express my sincerest Gratitude to my Heavenly Father, my team, the Elders in Rotary Club of Akure, as well as the entire members of the Rotary Family in Akure for the enormous support given to me from the first Fellowship on 7th July, 2020, when I assumed office till today 29th June, 2021 the last Fellowship in this Rotary Year.
“Given the circumstance of my emergence, it was the support and encouragement from my Husband and the Elders from within and outside Rotary Club of Akure that dissolved my initial fears and prodded me on. Today, to the Glory of God, we have acted our part to the best of our abilities on the Rotary Stage and the time has come to bow out.
“In spite of the sudden demise of Rotarian Tayo Olaifa which devastated all of us and the COVID 19 Pandemic which distrupted human activities across the globe, we were able to accomplish some feats during the Rotary Year.”
According to her: “We kick started with various lectures on what Rotary is and what Rotarians stand for in the month of July. “In the spirit of positive collaboration, the three Rotary Clubs in Akure, organised a joint training programme at the Rotary Civic Centre, Akure in August 2020. “There was a tree planting project executed within the Rotary House and in Alagbaka GRA, Akure with the support of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) to celebrate the new Rotary area of focus “Rotary Supports the Environment” in August 2020.
“In September, 2020, we celebrated the 40th Anniversary of this great Club and the investiture of the 40th President. During the ceremony, the 40th Anniversary Chairman, PDS Omotoyinbo, unveiled the album of past Presidents which improved the ambience of the Hall of this noble Club as we can all see on the wall.
“Part of the Fund raised during the Investiture Ceremony was deployed for the development of a Rotary branded 40-student capacity Library at the Imafon Community High School costing N416, 000.00. This included provision of reading tables, chairs, shelves etc. This was used to celebrate the Basic Education and Literacy Month.
In addition to celebrating the Education Month, books were donated to the Library by Rotarians; PP Akinwalere, TPL Amodu and Mr. Godwin a guest. TPL Amodu a Rotarian went further to donate books to the best students in the senior classes. The project which started in September was completed October in 2020.
“For the Month of Disease Prevention and Treatment, the Club had joint celebration of keeping polio at zero with a seminar and public awareness. – RC Akure organised a health talk, medical check-up for members and guests. – We had fellowship with Rotarians from Abuja Metro and also participated in the Rotary Club of Abuja Metro family planning project, which was a training session for Nurses and Midwives in the local government areas of Ondo State. One of the trainers was Rotarian Margaret Kuduyo of RC, Akure.”
She said: “We did not suffer any membership attrition during the year under review in spite of the Pandemic. We started with 30 members and I am handing over 30 fully paid quality Rotarians.
“Another great achievement during this tenure was that we were able to pay our dues to Rotary International and also to the District for this Rotary Year. In addition, we cleared a contentious and controversial outstanding debt of N325, 000 after an across the board 50% debt forgiveness for all Clubs.
“At the inception of the Rotary Year, the Rotary Civic Centre was burgled. The damaged burglary was appropriately fixed. The abandoned toilets were also fixed, cleaned and put into use at every occasion. We regularly engaged temporary cleaners and labourers to clean the toilets and the premises. We were able to purchase buckets, mops, and other sanitation materials for the Club.
“On Rotary Foundation, the Club was able to contribute more than $1,000 to both polio eradication and Annual Funds of Rotary Foundation, and will be more by 30th of June 2021 when the final payment will be made. We made sure that every member’s weekly contribution was paid using the multiple donor forms with evidence of payment.
The Club added a Paul Harris Fellow during the Rotary Foundation Month, which is my humble self.
“I give Kudos to the Foundation General PP Adesola Alabi for her support and encouragement.”
Further reeling out the achievements, the outgoing President said: “Our administration was able to procure two solar lamps at the cost of N70,000.00, one of which was donated by PP J. Ade Oni, while the other was bought with an ad hoc fund raising by members.
“A classroom was also completed at the Imafon Community School to the tune of N305, 000 by fixing two doors, four windows, plastering of walls and flooring courtesy of Rotarian Deji Akinwalere.
“I have to commend the Rotary new policy about strategic plan and the need to complete projects initiated by past Presidents.
“During the Maternal and Child Health Month, the Club was able to celebrate the Month with two Maternity Health Centres in Akure North Local Government Area; namely Eleyowo and Imafon Health Centres. The Club donated some hospital materials, and also Mama’s Kit for lucky Mothers who just put to bed during the visit to the clinic (costing N96, 000.00). Also a Rotary Ann, Mrs. Olaifa who put to bed was given gifts of wardrobe, baby diapers and wipes (costing about N98, 000.00).
“Our Team also procured beautiful branded window blinds for the Rotary House as you can see, costing N100, 000.00.”
On social activities, she said: “In order to deepen social bonding among our members, we consistently:
- Celebrated Rotarians Birthdays during Fellowships;
- Celebrated Rotary Ann’s Birthdays;
- Stood by our members during other social engagements like burials of relatives, weddings, retirement ceremonies as we can see in the photos;
- The DG’s Investiture Ceremony was well attended in Ilorin by our members; – DISCON 2021 was well attended too in Ilorin with seven members in attendance;
- Celebrated with PAG Lanre Balogun at Ikoro Ekiti; – Celebrated with PP Femi Akinsulire during his father’s burial;
- Celebrated with PDG Yemi Olajide during his birthday;
- We had a Special Fellowship in honour of the oldest Rotarian in RC of Akure, the 95 years old Justice Eddy Ojuolape.”
She said: “We collected the annual rent of N150, 000.00 on the Rotary Civic Centre. The Club had resolved that the annual rent should be upwardly reviewed.”
Fixed Assets she is leaving behind include Club House; Furniture (150 chairs and 10 tables in good condition); Rotary branded pulpit in good condition; Generator in good condition; Public Address System not in good condition; Air Conditioner: Not so sure of the state of the asset; Table Clothes: 10 pieces were produced, two stolen by thieves; Rotary Song Books, both old and new version.
Statutory Payments made between the 2020/2021 Rotary Year under her leadership include Rotary International Dues – N883,500.00; District Dues – N330,000.00; Outstanding District Dues of N325,000.00; Weekly Foundation contribution – N160,000.00; Paul Harris – N198,000.00; Total Annual Dues paid by Members of RC Akure – N1, 615,000.00; (Only N63, 000.00 Annual Dues yet to be paid by some members)
Rotarian Akintunde-Abioye said: “During this Year, I received two prestigious Awards from JCI Akure and the Ondo State Heroine Award of the Year by VISAGE Women Foundation.
“Financially, we started this Year with very little money handed over. The Club started with N160,000.00 financial status which was handed over, and we started by clearing the debt handed over but will be handing over a clean Account with the Annual Dues of three Rotarians who have made payment for the next Rotary Year; the last administration paid a debt of N51,000.00 to PP Rotimi Adeyemi, and later paid a refund of N25,000.00 being payment for Hall usage which was not used during the last administration because of the Pandemic; but we thank God this administration is not owing. We have also received dues for next year from PP J Ade Oni, PP Lola Oni and Rotn. Desmond Eke has also paid N10, 400, for the next Year’s Registration and a sum of N164, 000.00. We were able to achieve this through the encouragement of our Elders and the Debt Recovery Committee. The “Osomalo” Legacy really worked and I think it should be sustained.
“I thank you all. I can assure you that my incoming President will laugh, knowing fully well that the account is buoyant. Sure it will be more than the amount handed over by the last administration.
“You will all agree with me that we have had a tough, busy year and we did great, by being where we need to be, with no debt in this great Club, RC Akure. I am confident that the baton of progress is being passed to the hands of Rotn Lekan Oni, who was in charge of the finances during my tenure and who I know to be a hard-working prudent and diligent man. I wish him success and an enjoyable year.
“It is an understatement to say that I have enjoyed this Rotary Year. I look back at the happy moments we had together and the achievements this Club has made. Before I take my seat, I would like to thank all Club members, my beautiful Past Presidents Rotn Bose Adedipe, Rotn Adesola Alabi, for their prayers; PDG Yemi Olajide, Rtn Akintola, Rotn Omodayo, Rotaractors Tosin and Omolola, my P.As in absentia, PAG Batife, PAG CNN, AG Kelvin, PP Deji Fasuyi, PP Oludare, PP J Ade Oni, PDS Omotoyinbo, NITP, Dr. Mrs Omoh Odunbaku, Deji Bademosi, guests and friends. I love you all.
“I will like to end this speech by saying “The Tenure of Human Positions, no matter how highly exalted will eventually come to an end. Only God’s Tenure is Eternal.”
In a short interview, she told The Radiance: “I want to thank Almighty God for the success of this tenure. I am presiding at the last Rotary fellowship of the year in good health. I appreciate God; I thank Him for keeping us safe and sound; for making us to achieve so many things. I thank all my fellow Rotarians and wish the incoming President a successful tenure.”
Following are the comments of fellow Rotarians about the outgoing administration:
Rotarian Lekan Oni, the incoming President: “The outgoing Year has been a very wonderful one. The outgoing President has done her bit; because no one can finish the Rotary work. She has done extremely well. She executed projects to help the needy, the less privileged. It has been a very good year and we wish her very good years after this Rotary Year.”
On his vision and plans of his incoming administration, he said: “You know in Rotary we build on what the other Presidents achieved. It is my view, mission and vision that I would do the type of work that would be able to surpass what the outgoing President achieved.
“In my Year there are some projects that we are looking at. This Club has been on the project at Imafon Secondary School. My own dream is to have it completed in my year, commissioned and handed over to the community. Although we have students there now, we want to make the place habitable and they can see that this is really a Rotary project.
“Secondly all the Rotary Clubs in Akure have met and we have agreed to embark on the project so that this year again we want to have eye surgery for at least 100 patients that are suffering from cataract. We pray that the Lord would give us a very good year to execute that project. So also we have this project – Back to School. We have been doing it. We did it two years ago and last year. In my year I want to reintroduce the project and name it after my friend whom we lost last year through accident, Tayo Olaifa. We have chosen a secondary school along Oba Ile Road. We want to give out school grants, textbooks, books, bags, shoes, everything to indigent children. There are some pupils in that school who could not afford ordinary N1, 000 school fees. There are some that go to school barefooted. There are some that go to school without books in their bags. So it is my dream that we would be able to give out at least 100 grants.
“In Rotary we have seven areas. We have Maternal and Child, Disease Prevention and Control, Environment etc. Every month we should be able to embark on a project that affects humanity”
Rotarian Lekan Oni, an estate surveyor who hails from Ilesa in Osun State, said: “I have been in the Rotary Family since 2006 as a Rotaractor when I was in the higher institution. I became a member of this Club in 2013. Since then I have been Treasurer, SA, Vice President and now I am the incoming President. Come July 1st, I would become the substantive President of this Club. I would be the 41st President.
“I wish my outgoing President the Grace to enjoy what she has laboured for humanity.”
Rotarian PP Ologundudu Rotimi: “The outgoing Rotary Year has been fulfilling. The President, Rotarian Rachel performed wonderfully; and we are happy with her administration. Hopefully by the time the incoming President takes over, he would build on her achievements.”
On projects he wishes the incoming President to execute, he said: “There are programmes; but for now we are praying that the three Clubs, the Rotary Club of Akure, Rotary Club of Akure Metro and the Rotary Club of City would come together to do a big joint project. That is our wish for this coming Year.”
Rotarian Ogunlebi Stephen: “It was a wonderful Year; and I want to really thank the Lord for the gift of life, for sparing us to witness this Rotary Year and the enablement given to us to perform all the humanitarian services to humanity. We are so grateful for this Rotary Year. My expectation is according to the theme of the incoming Year, which is all about service to humanity too; service to humanity to make beautiful changes. We are expecting that in the forthcoming Year, Rotary would impact more than before on humanity.”
Rotarian Adeyemi Robert: “The outgoing Rotarian President is a woman of repute, substance, a woman that so many people respect; and she is a go getter. A lot could be said of her. We wish her best of luck as she is handing over to the incoming President. We wish her all the best. The incoming President is also a man of repute; a man we can boldly say is a go getter because he has been there for years to navigate to success.”
Rotarian Omodayo S .O alias Bishop: “The outgoing President has performed. To the best of my knowledge she has tried a lot. There is no doubt about that and I am using this medium to implore the incoming President to put in more efforts on those of the previous President so that we would have new members coming to the Fellowship to celebrate.”
PAG Lanre Balogun: “The outgoing Year has been wonderful, full with achievements. The Year has been very successful. There has been development in the Club and the President enjoyed the support of nearly all Rotarians throughout the Year. The incoming President should emulate the outgoing President.”
Rotarian PP Desola Alabi: “It was very marvelous. In fact, this Rotary Year has been one that this Club does not owe the District and Rotary International or anybody because the President is a good money collector. She collected virtually everybody’s due. That has made us the Rotary Club of Akure to be worthy with the District. The District treats us as the debts free Rotary Club and the President has made us proud.
“She is computer literate, an intelligent lady anywhere and very reserved. She has made the Club to have a very good time in this Rotary Year. By that we are giving kudos to the outgoing President. Our belief is that the incoming President would go all out to ensure that people would not owe money so that we would be able to pay the District and Rotary International. He should ensure that he has the heart to encourage people to pay their money to time so that at the end of the day we would be a debts free Club. We want him to continue with the achievements of the outgoing President so that at the end of the day all of us would again be proud.”
Rotarian Ibrahim Olamide: “The Rotary Year has been a fantastic year. By the theme Rotary Opens Opportunities, the President has done what we expect a Rotary President to have done.”
Rotarian Bunmi Falodun from Akure Metro Club, Akure: “This is not my Club; but this Club interacts with my Club. I am here to celebrate with this Club especially the outgoing Rotary President in person of Rachel. It has been a wonderful family and we thank the Lord. She has proved that what a man can do, a woman can even do better.
“We have been interacting. We do Fellowship together since the inception of our Rotary Year. She led very well. As part of her achievements, this year they were able to pay all their outstanding debts to the District and Rotary International; and she is leaving a clean plate for the incoming President to take off. I wish the new President well in the coming Rotary Year. And the Lord would bless him.”
On plans by the three Rotary Clubs in Akure to unite in executing projects, he said: “Rotary is one family whether we have branches anywhere. In Akure here we see ourselves as one; and we do projects together. I wish that this incoming Year the incoming administrations would implement collective projects for 2021/2022.”
Rotarian Past District Secretary (PDS) Dayo Omotoyinbo: “The outgoing Rotary Year has been fantastic. The President took over in a circumstantial case because it was not actually her turn to take over office; but circumstances made us to appeal to her and she took the bull by the horn and she started as if she had prepared three years back. She has been so fantastic, very intelligent, humble, and hardworking she has displayed a bit of leadership, and she has actually impacted well on the Club. So it was a year well spent that is ending today.”
Rotarian AG Kelvin Meyeyin: “It has been a wonderful year. I give kudos to the outgoing President. She was a circumstantial President. Here we are today. She has performed outstandingly; she has been up and doing in putting the Club together to make it the beautiful one that you are seeing today. I wish her the best in other areas of her endeavours.”
Rotarian PP Adeyemi Rotimi: “We thank the Lord for His Mercy. It has been a wonderful year. Despite the lockdown occasioned by COVID-19, the Club here has been very successful and impactful. So many individuals have been touched and so many facilities have been touched. We thank the Lord for it. We look forward to more to come in future. It has been a very eventful year.”
Rotarian PP Dr. Dele Oludare “It has been a successful year and as usual when you have females at the helm of affairs, things would normally go well to the admiration of everyone. We are happy she has contributed her own quota characteristically as it is in Rotary.
“You cannot do annul elections in Rotary. Once you come here you serve one year and leave; you vacate for another person. I am hoping that the person taking over from her would improve on the performances and take Rotary to the next level. I encourage many people to come and be part of Rotary as Rotary is out to help the needy. If you have that spirit you are invited to the Rotary Family.”
Rotarian Christabel Nkechi Nnaemeka, popularly called CNN: “Rotarian Rachel Akintunde-Abioye is actually a special breed. She is a Rotarian that came in during very serious circumstances. Ordinarily if you are not tough, you won’t be able because at the beginning of this Rotary Year that is running out, we lost the incoming President and we were all looking around for who would occupy this vacuum created by Nature because death is natural; and we were going round. But from nowhere we went to talk to her even when she did not go through formal training. And she said she would do it if this was the selfless service she would do to save the Club; and that is how she came.
“Sincerely I am from another Club. I am the past District Assistant Governor and we go out to Clubs to see how they are performing. She is doing very well. She did very well to retain the existing members. She did very well to revive moribund members who had been out for a long time. She went all out to get them back. That is why we see people all around; old Presidents are forthcoming to see the celebration. Old Rotarians are coming to Rotary.
“She also embarked on projects which are life impacting. I like her personality. She is one person who I respect. I respect her carriage and sagacity. Her sagacity is next to none. Her leadership of the Rotary Club where you have older Rotarians, who are very experienced, is exemplary. We have wonderful Rotarians, even when she is struggling, they are there to give her a helping hand; and that is why we are seeing the success of this evening.
“To God be the Glory, she would be handing over to the new President today. Her success story is written in gold. I am a District General. When I looked at her performance I said this woman excels and she should come as our own District General. And that would be presented to her as the time goes on.”
CNN, a Past Club President of Rotary Club of Ijapo now Rotary of Akure Metro, is a past Assistant Governor, who also served as Assistant Governor between 2012 and 2015, said of herself: “ I was Rotaract Chair. I am a Contact Person for anything that has to do with the youths. I relate back to the District as we make progress. At present I am deployed to the Rotary Club Akure City because it is a new Club that makes the Rotary Clubs in Akure three. It is the Baby Club and we are like a senior citizen there trying to mentor the young ones who are coming up.
“I served as the Projects Chair for the last year and this very year. I have been Club Director as International Director. We were in South Africa, Hamburg, Germany, US, Canada. I am actually a strategist, a PhD holder I am the Director General of Strategic Management. I am a Paul Harris Fellow (PHF), Fellow of Rotary International and also other institutions. I like meeting people; and I like embarking on actionable blueprints for institutions generally.
“I want you as a person to join Rotary. It’s a place to be; a place you find leadership training, a place you find peace and genuine love, a place you help the less privileged. That is the core; and I am so happy. Since I have been in Rotary for the past 16 years I don’t have any regret being a Rotarian.”
Rotarian Town Planner Amodu Idowu Emmanuel, a colleague of the outgoing President in the Ondo State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development: “It has been very successful and remarkable in the sense that there have been a lot of innovations. Unlike past events like this gathering that I have attended, this one is more innovative in nature and with a high knowledge of sensitivity with contributions and friendship from the outgoing President.
“She has set up a landmark record for the incoming President to beat. What she did was very special and she performed well. She has actually demonstrated that she is a true Rotarian. She is highly humble and at the same time a cheerful giver in any occasion she is invited to. I say congratulations to her and encourage the incoming President also to be able to beat this particular record.”
Rotaractor Adeniyi Omolola Elizabeth: “The outgoing President has done a lot of wonderful jobs. I so much appreciate her. I am very grateful that I am part of the Rotary Year. I wish the incoming President a good and successful year ahead.”
