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What Many People Don’t Know
Rotary Club in Nigeria was organized through the help of Rotarian Vuillemier who invited 21 distinguished business and professional men in Kano municipality to form the Rotary Club of Kano which was chartered on 28th April 1961.
About the same time, two other Clubs were in various stages of formation in Southern Nigeria. The formation of the Rotary Club of Lagos which was chartered on 30th May, 1961 was organised with the help of Dr. Bill Egnatoff, a Canadian National resident in Lagos. The formation of the Rotary Club of Ibadan whose charter was granted in November of the same year was spearheaded by Rotarian Anofi Guobadia who served as her first Secretary and later became the first Nigerian Governor in the 1974-1975 Rotary year under District 210. Prior to 1968, when Rotary International started appointing Zonal Representatives to administer Clubs in Nigeria, the administration of local Clubs was done on an ad-hoc basis. The Zonal Representatives were Rotarian Jack Farnsworth 1968-1969, Rotarian Bayo Braithwaite 196-1970, Rotarian Inder Baker 1970-1971, Rotarian Anofi S. Goubadia 1971-1972 and Rotarian Phillip Dudeney in 1972-1973.
Following the establishment of 33 Rotary Clubs in the West African Sub-Region, District 210 was created to cover the sub-region at the 1973 Rotary International Convention held at Loussane, Switzerland. Rotarian Francios Amorin of the Rotary Club of Cotonou became the first elected Governor for District 210, covering West Africa.
Other Rotarians who served as Governors of District 210 were; Anofi Guobadia 1974-1975, Tommy Hope 1977-1978 with Rotarian Sam Okuzedto of Ghana becoming the first Governor of District 910. Rotarians who were also Governors of District 910 are Joe Richard 1978-1979, Antoniades Michias 1979-1980 and Georges Sangaret 1980-1981.
Rotarian Jonathan B. Majiyagbe (Rotary Club of Kano) served as Governor in 1981-1982. He went further to serve as Director of Rotary International from 1988-1990, Rotary Foundation Trustee 1994-1995, aide to RI President Carlo Ravizza in 1999-2000 and President of Rotary International in 2003-2004. His theme was LEND A HAND. In the 2008-2009 year, he served as Chair of the Rotary Foundation Trustees.
The growth of Rotary in Nigeria recorded a landmark in the 1982-1983 year. In 1982, Rotary International created District 911 for the twenty-nine Clubs in Nigeria. The first Governor of the new District was the ever dynamic and amiable Rotarian Julius Adelusi – Adeluyi (Rotary Club of Ikeja) in whose one year tenure as District Governor, thirty-three new Clubs were formed and chartered all over the Country. This laid the foundation of rapid growth of membership of Rotary in Nigeria.
His successor, Rotarian Bob Ogbuagu (Rotary Club of Warri) 1983-1984 added 25 new Clubs thus bringing the number of Clubs to 87. This encouraged Rotary International to split District 911 into 2 with the creation of District 912. Following the creation of the new District, District 911 then covered Lagos, Ogun. Oyo, Kwara and Sokoto States of Nigeria as well as the Federal Capital Territory Abuja. District 912 covered all the other parts of the country.
In 1984-1985 Rotarian Babatunde Ajayi (Rotary Club of Lagos) was Governor of District 911. Rotarian Sanda of Rotary Club of Jos, was Governor of District 912. They were succeeded in 1985-1986 by Rotarian Mike Okwechime (Rotary Club of Benin) for District 912 and Rotarian Adebayo Adetunji (Rotary Club in Ibadan) for District 911 .
There was such tremendous growth in Rotary membership and the number of Clubs which, motivated a further splitting of Rotary Clubs in Nigeria into 4 Rotary Districts by July 1986, when Rotarian Adedapo Adewale Tejuosho (Rotary Club of Ikeja) became District Governor for District 911, Rotarian Solomon Abe (Kaduna) was the District Governor 912, Rotarian Kolawole Olafimihan (Ibadan) was District Governor 913and Rotarian Fred Agama (Port-Harcourt) was the District Governor for District 914.
1987-1988, Rotarians in Nigeria enjoyed the leadership of Late Rotarian Oluwole Folarin (Rotary Club of SOD in District 911, Rotarian J. A. J Ajoge of District 912, Rotarian Adedoyin Adelokun of District 913 and Rotarian Ben Chudi Udezen District 914, while in 1988-1989, amiable late Rotarian Banjo Solaru was the District of Governor of District 911 and late S. Gusah was the District Governorfor District 912 whilst 913 and 914 also had Rotarians. Ayo Ogunlade and Chike Nwizu as Governors.
-n team for 1989-1990 had Rotarian Adekunle Adepoju for District 911, Rotarian Williams Adjekugele for Istrict 912, Rotarian Samuel Oloruntoba for District 913 and Rotarian Issac Jemide for District 914.
In 1990, Rotary International added “0” to the number of all Districts for convenient recording on computer. In 1990-1991, Late Rotarian Adekunle Balogun became District Governor for District 9110, while District 9120,9130,9140 had Rotarians Stephen C. Kitchener, Olutunde Oni and N.C Allanah as their respective District Governors.
Our Rotary leaders for the year 1991-1992 were late Rotarian Adekunle Kukoyi (9110), Rotarian Aba- Kyari 9120). Rotarian Babatunde Conde (9130) and Rotarian Edward Spiff for 9140. In 1992-1993, it was a Jeserving turn for Rotarian Oladipupo Bailey (911 0), Rotarian Jonathan Olubi (9120) Rotarian Raymond Zard 9130) and Rotarian Ita Okokon (9140). 1993-94 had distinguished Rotarians Biodun Sanwo (9110), Francis Gana (9120), Akinwande Akinola (9130), David Okonkwo (9140) as District Governors; with late Adejuwon Adeoba (911 0), Emman A. Lufadeju (9120), Alex T. Sokan (9130) and Ben Aghazu (9140) taking their turn in the “Be A Friend” year 1994-1995.
Rotarians Ebun Ade Adefeso (9110), Abdulrahman Funsho (9120), Yahaya Bamidele (9130) and Col. Cornelius Otiteh (9140) led Rotarians of the country to “Act with integrity, serve with Love and work for peace” in the year 1995-1996. For 1996-1997, the District Governors of “Action and Vision” were Rotarian Olalekan Ogundimu (9110), Rotarian Mike Osuman (9120), Rotarian Eniola Adeshina (9130) and Rotarian Eddie I. Mbadiwe (9140).
I 1997-98, it was the turn of “We Care” team led by Rotarian Adeniji Raji (9110), Rotarian David George-Taylor (9120), Rotarian Supo Toyosi (9130) and Rotarian Henry U. Ejumudo (9140). Our Districts were administered in 1998-1998 by “Dream Team” Governors made up of Rotarian Martin Itotoi (9110), Rotarian Joshua Hassan (9120). 9130 had Rotarian Yemi Olajide and for 9140, it was Rotarian Macaulay. After them came DGs “2 ow – ow” (1999-2000), these were late Rotarian Justus O. Sonuga (9110), Rotarian Moses A. T. Gbande (9120), Rotarian Sam A. Adekore (9130) and Rotarian Tim Nwankwofor 9140.
To continue the good work of Rotary in 2000-2001 were Rotarian Emmanuel Olufemi Shobanjo (9110), Rotarian Lemmy O. Ijioma (9120), Rotarian Chuka D. Chiejina (9130) and Rotarian Omaka Okoh (9140). In 2001-2002 Rotary year, we had Rotarian Charles Adebiyi (9110), Rotarian Kolawole Ajao Owoka (9120), Rotarian Olufemi Oladimeji (9130) and Rotarian Emmanuel Benedict Nwankpa 9140.
District Governor Gafar Olajide Oyewo (9110), Festus Akpati (9120), Robert Bonuola Koleosho (9130) and Eddy Osawaru Ikponwen (9140) led the Nigerian Rotarians in the year 2002-2003 whilst erudite Professor of Engineering, Alaba Akinsete (9110); Yamah Mohammed (9120); Gbadebo Falaye (9130) and Odoliyi Lolomari (9140) joined the first African Rotary president, Nigerian born Jonathan Babatunde Majiyagbe who called on all Rotarians world-wide and friends of Rotary to “Lend a Hand” for the blessed year 2003-2004. For the centennial year 2004-2005, District Governors Olumayowa Olukoya (D911 0), Sunny Joe Agba (D9120), Zacchaeus Abiodun Odeleye (D9130) and Jonathan o. Ikeako (D9140) led Rotarians to CELEBRATE Rotary’s 100 years of service to humanity.
To flag off the second century of service in the 2005-2006 year the Rotary District Governors in Nigeria were Rotarians Michael Olawale -Cole (9110), Greg Chido Amajuoyi (9120), Rotimi Tayo (9130) and Nwakire Onuoha (9140). The theme for the year was “Service Above Self”. To “LEAD THE WAY” in the 2006-2007 Rotary year the District Governors in the four Districts in Nigeria are Rotarian Yomi Adewunmi D9110, Rotarian David Garnwa D9120, Rotarian Femi Lawani D9130 and Rotarian Vidal Wachukwu D9140. The District Governors for 2007-2008 “ROTARY SHARES” year were, Somo Omoniyi (9110), Saliu Ahmed (9120), Adebayo Oni (9130) and Udo Mbosoh (9140). The District Governors for 2008-2009 “Make Dreams Real” year were Richard Giwa – Osagie (9110), King A. Esievo (9120) Bamidele O. Samson (9130) and Elizabeth Ogugua Nwankwu (9140).
Following a reorganisation of Rotary Districts in Nigeria, Districts 9120 & 9130 were merged into one District named 9125 with effect from July 1, 2009. The District Governors for 2009-201 0 “THE FUTURE OF ROTARY IS IN YOUR HANDS” Year were, Emmanuel’Tayo Alabi (9110), Kazeem Mustapha (9125) and Uduak Inyang (9140). The District Governors for 2010-2011 “BUILDING COMMUNITIES BRIDGING CONTINENTS” Year were Matthias Oladeinde Shoga (9110) Obafunmiso Ogunkeye (9125) and Gabriel Toby (9140).
For 2011-2012 Rotary year, with the theme “REACH WITHIN TO EMBRACE HUMANITY” were District Governors Kennedy Ejakpomewhe (911 0), Lawrence Okwor (9125) and Yinka Babalola (9140). The District Governors for 2012-2013 Rotary Year with the theme “PEACE THROUGH SERVICE”, were Kamoru Omotosho (9110), Felix Ayo Obadan (9125) and Buchy Onuoha (9140). The District Governors for 2013-2014 Rotary Year with the theme “ENGAGE ROTARY CHANGE LIVES”, were District Governors Olugbemiga Olowu (9110), Felix Anime (9125) and Charles Onianwa (9140). The District Governors for 2014-2015 Rotary Year with the theme “LIGHT UP ROTARY”, were District Governors Dele Aloysius Balogun (9110), Tolu Omatsola (9125) and Noble Eshemitan (9140). The District Governors for the 2015-2016 Rotary Year with the theme “BE AGIFT TO THE WORLD” were District Governors Bola Onabadejo (9110), Mike Omotosho (9125) and Ijeoma P. Okoro (9140). The District Governors for the 2016-2017 Rotary Year with the theme “ROTARY SERVING HUMANITY” are District Governors Patrick Ikheloa (9110), Bisi Adegoke (9125) and Akabom Enebong (9140).
Following a reorganisation of Rotary Districts in Nigeria, District 9140 was redistricted into District 9141 and 9142 with effect from July 1, 2017. District Governors for 2017-2018 Rotary year with the theme “ROTARY: MAKING A DIFFERENCE”. were Adewale Lateef Ogunbadejo (9110), Mbanefo Ositadinma Nnoka (9125), Ikponmwosa Osagie Ogiemudia (9141) and Emman Ude Akpeh (9142). The District Governors for 2018-2019 Rotary year with the theme “BE THE INSPIRATION” were District Governors Kola Sodipo (9110), Elvis Chibiko Chukwu (9125), Adeyemi Ismael Oladokun (9141) and Daniel Chiedozie Ajawara (9142).
The District Governors for 2019-2020 Rotary year with the theme “ROTARY CONNECTS” were Jide Akeredolu (9110), Victor Onukwugha (9125), Nze Anizor (9141) and Samuel Uko (9142). The District Governors for 2020-2021 Rotary year with the theme “ROTARY OPENS OPPORTUNITIES” were Bola Oyebade (9110), Jumoke Bamigboye (9125), Virginia Major (9141) and Ndukwe Chukwu (9142). At this moment, Rotary leaders in Nigeria continue to work hard to make Rotary grow in quality and quantity in relevance and effectiveness in order to provide more beneficial service to the generality of Nigerians in their communities.
The District Governors for the 2021-2022 Rotary year with the theme “SERVE TO CHANGE LIVES” were Remi Bello (9110), Ayoola Oyedokun (9125), Eyone Andy Uwejeyan (9141) and Okey Okonkwo (9142). In the 2022-2023 Rotary year with the theme “IMAGINE ROTARY” were Omotunde Lawson, FCAI (9110), Goody Nnadi, Mni (9125), Mightyman Dikuro (9141) and Grace Okaro (9142). To lead Rotarians in the 2023-2024 Rotary Year with theme “CREATE HOPE IN THE WORLD” are Ifeyinwa Rita Ejezie, (9110) Sagab Sani Ahmed, (9125) Emeka Utebor, (9141) and Akan Charles Emah, (9142).
With high motivation from PDG Yinka Babalola, the first Rotary Director for Zone 22 Africa with lead for growth in Membership of Rotary in 2020 – 2021 , 2021 – 2022, 2022 – 2023 and 2023 – 2024 Rotary years In Nigeria, the Rotary International approve the Districting of District 9110 into Districts 9111 and 9112 in October 2023 and District 9125 into Districts 9126 and 9127 in January 2024.
Rotarian Clement Olufemi Adenekan is to lead District 9112 as the PIONEER District Governor with effect from 1st July, 2024.
–Culled From The Brochure of Rotarian Adenekan’s Installation
