Health
Rotary District 9127 Targets More Foundation Funding For Humanitarian Projects
Rotary International District 9127 has pledged to strategically leverage the Rotary Foundation to implement sustainable, measurable and high-impact humanitarian projects across its coverage areas, focusing on health, education and community development.
The new District Governor, Mr Sikiru Owonikoko, made the commitment during a handover ceremony on Wednesday in Abuja, outlining his administration’s priorities for strengthening Rotary’s impact and relevance.
Owonikoko said the district had positioned itself to maximise funding opportunities from the Rotary foundation to expand interventions in healthcare, education, water, sanitation and community development programmes.
“District 9127 is ready and has positioned itself to draw more intentionally and more strategically from the foundation to deliver projects with physical, sustainable and measurable impact,” he said.
According to him, contributions to the rotary foundation should be viewed as investments in hope, opportunity and humanity, rather than mere donations, because of their transformative impact on communities.
He said his administration would focus on public image, membership growth, leadership development, communication, discipline and technology to strengthen rotary’s effectiveness and expand its humanitarian reach.
Owonikoko emphasised that rotary’s public image should be built on authentic stories of service and measurable outcomes rather than publicity materials, highlighting the organisation’s practical contributions to society.
“People do not connect with institutions; they connect with people of action, and we are people of action,” he said.
The district governor urged rotary clubs to showcase interventions that returned indigent children to school, improved healthcare delivery, empowered widows and transformed communities through sustainable development initiatives.
According to him, membership growth should go beyond increasing numbers by ensuring members remain engaged, valued and inspired, thereby attracting more individuals committed to humanitarian service.
“We have no presence in seven states for so long, and that narrative must change this rotary year,” he said.
Owonikoko said transparency, open communication and accountability would remain central to his administration, fostering trust among members, partners and beneficiary communities across the district.
On discipline, he said rotary’s voluntary nature did not diminish the need for strict adherence to standards in financial management, reporting processes and leadership responsibilities.
“Discipline is not punishment. Discipline is respect for standards. When we are disciplined, we are credible, and when we are credible, we are trusted,” he said.
Owonikoko also announced an ambitious digital transformation agenda anchored on technology and artificial intelligence to improve operational efficiency and enhance service delivery across the district.
He said that District 9127 had secured a 10-year subscription to an artificial intelligence-powered platform designed to improve planning, communication, event management and organisational effectiveness.
“The world is evolving, and rotary must evolve with it. Technology will no longer be an option in District 9127; it is already institutionalised,” he said.
He urged rotarians to embrace innovation while preserving rotary’s long-standing tradition of selfless service, stressing that enduring impact would define the organisation’s legacy.
“History will not remember our titles; it will remember our impact,” he said.
Earlier, the outgoing District Governor, Dr Joy Okoro, highlighted achievements recorded during the 2025/2026 Rotary year, describing them as evidence of members’ commitment to service.
She said the district recorded rotary foundation contributions of 246,501 dollars, reflecting sustained support from members towards humanitarian interventions and community development projects.
According to her, 20 per cent of the contributions were committed to polio eradication activities, reinforcing rotary’s longstanding role in the global fight against the disease.
Okoro said 34,000 dollars was allocated through the rotary club of Kaduna for the procurement of a mammography machine for Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital.
She added that other interventions included the provision of eight neonatal incubators, eight phototherapy units, 20 hospital beds and 20 specialised mattresses to strengthen healthcare delivery.
The outgoing governor further said that the district constructed two fully equipped classroom blocks with 100 desks for an Islamic school in Kawo and donated 80 additional desks.
According to her, the interventions addressed critical needs in maternal and child health, disease prevention, education, water, sanitation, environmental sustainability and broader community development efforts.
“Together, we have strengthened our district, expanded our reach and positively impacted countless lives,” she said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru