How We Started Rotary In Nigeria In 1982

• The Doyen, Prince JULIUS ADELUSI-ADELUYI

The name, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, may not ring a bell to the younger generation, but it certainly resonates with the older folks. This distinguished gentleman, who not only oozes royalty but is indeed Royalty, happens to be one of Nigeria’s most brilliant minds. As a young man back in the day, his brilliance shone through with his impressive academic performances at various levels. And even now that Prince Julius Adelusi Adeluyi is only a few weeks shy of celebrating his 84th birthday (he will be 84 in August) he is still as brilliant as ever. His mind is still sharp. His thought process is still unhindered by age. It is faster than that of most men half his age. And his English is still as impeccable as ever. Many don’t remember he was former Minister of Health and Social Services. He is the founder and Chairman of the hugely popular Juli Plc. Besides being an accomplished pharmacist, this tall and handsome looking Ado-Ekiti Prince is a legal practitioner, and was an outstanding students’ unionist. Having been around for over five decades making a mark in his endeavours, he has become a role model and exemplary professional with a track record of untainted integrity. Adelusi-Adeluyi’s story lies between self-determination and self-actualization.

He is an integral part of Rotary club in Nigeria. Let us also inform you that he was the early Rotary Governor with the launch of Nigeria as a District in 1982. He was a past District Governor for Rotary District 911. This was some 42 years ago. And now that he is just a few days to his 84th birthday, he is still very involved in the activities of the Rotary Club. He monitors the progress of the various districts and offers invaluable pieces of advice anytime he is called upon to counsel the younger ones whom he handed over the baton to. This is why the current leadership of the club does not joke with him. They hold him in high esteem. They call him the Doyen of Rotary Nigeria. They are grateful that he still avails them the privilege to drink from his fountain of incredible knowledge and experience. It is no surprise to many who know the Prince that he is passionate about the Rotary Club. This is because, all his life, he has always been passionate about service to humanity. His philanthropic activities are very well documented.

Two Saturdays ago, precisely July 13, 2024, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi stepped out to attend the investiture ceremony of Rotarian Femi Adenekan as the pioneer District Governor of District 9112. And the Doyen was the Chairman of the occasion. City People Senior Editor, WALE LAWAL (08037209290) seized the opportunity to engage the Doyen for at least a few minutes conversation. Getting an uninterrupted audience with him was not easy as his seat was a beehive of activities. Many of the Rotarians present converged around him to pay their beloved Doyen ‘homage’. They all love him and are always excited when they have him in their midst.

How does he feel, knowing he is so loved and revered by both the young and the old? We asked him to share with us, how it makes him feel when he steps into a gathering and receives such warm reception and respect from the people? His face lit up with a bright smile, and he responds: “I am grateful to God Almighty. And I acknowledge that there is no one who achieves by himself, it is always the grace of God Almighty, so I thank God. But for today’s occasion, I feel, as I said publicly, very actualised. This journey of Rotary Nigeria started with the launch of Nigeria as a district in 1982. It was some 42 years ago when I was governor. And to see now that Rotary is all over Nigeria, we have six districts, is something that makes me feel self actualised. But my appeal to everybody is that, inspite of all these jollification and merriment, we must focus on the real thing, which is that Rotary international is an organisation that is set to provide beneficial service to people, especially those who are disadvantaged in the areas of health, in the areas of education, in the areas of economic empowerment and other special areas. I hope that Rotarians realise that they are there on a self sacrifice mission. Government cannot do everything for everybody, so the Rotary internation, should, within its own parameters and paradigms, be seen to be doing something continuosly and better with every year. We have done a lot in the area of health, polio, scholarships, area of education, economic empowerment and this is just the beginning. The more we are in Rotary, the better for the communities.

Also, I feel that Rotarians must set the pace in ethical behaviour. This country will be different if we were all ethical. Greed will be reduced, corruption will disappear if we all apply the Four Way Test: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? If you put that on the desk of every Executive to consider it before taking a decision, then they are not selfish, then they’re not greedy, then they realise that acqusition of wealth is not enough. Rotarians should realise that in these days when everybody wants to be a big man, being big is not enough. You must strive to be great. In greatness lies your strength.”

Following his time as one of the foremost past District Governors in 1982, the Rotary has since gone on to experience an astronomical growth. The new crop of leaders have done well to improve on the strong and enduring foundation that Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi left behind. How impressed is he, seeing how the standard of the Rotary club has been raised from the point where he handed over to the younger ones to what it is now? What sort of joy does he feel when he looks around sees the younger ones growing the Rotary family and taking it to unprecedented heights? A look of fulfilment glowed on his face. “Oh, I feel fulfilled. Those who were children in those days are now governors. Those who were in what we call the junior Rotary, Interacts and Rotaracts, are now governors. The governor of today was a Rotaractor. Nothing makes me happier than to see these young ones coming to play the role, you don’t have to set a standard for them but you must counsel them to stay focused on the ideals of service because, if you focus on your focus, you will become the focus. If Rotarians focus on service, they will then be the focus, nationally, internationally recognised as an organisation that provides service and does philanthropy and helps the helpless.”

Being an integral part of the Rotary, at any level, can be both financially and sometimes mentally draining because it involves a lot of financial sacrifices. Does he agree that serving the Rotary Club in one’s quest to be of value to humanity can be draining sometimes? Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi nods slowly.”Well, but every effort you make is draining. But if you’re passionate about something, then you don’t count the cost or returns. It is all about passion, not passion for Rotary, but passion for the people to be better through Rotary. Rotary is a medium and therefore, if you are so applying yourself, you don’t feel the pains, but the pains may be there. However, something tells me, from my own experience, that if you focus on doing this kind of job, somehow, the good Lord provides always.”

– WALE LAWAL

(08037209290)