The position came unplanned, but since it became clear that it would happen, I applied myself to make a success of the assignment.
I had had several opportunities to enlist with Rotary, being passionate about humanitarian causes, but I didn’t heed the call until 2021. On the 2nd of February of that year, I lost my only son, Adeyinka, who was approaching his 31st birthday. In my mourning period, I encouraged myself that I could no longer procrastinate about doing good; for when we are gone (as it had then just happened to my dear son), all our dreams are gone as well. During that season, I got a call from Rotarian Valentine Shomoye, who I later found out was New Club Adviser of Rotary Club of Ikeja-Alausa Central. I didn’t even know the name of the club he mentioned, but I said “Yes” to his prompt to join Rotary.
During the charter certificate presentation to the new club in March 2021, I knew only two people in the hall – Rotarian John Odiboh, my special brother who had been harassing me over the years to join Rotary; and Past District Governor, Rotarian Bola Onabadejo. In the latter’s year as Governor of Rotary International District 9110, I delivered a presentation at the District’s Public Image seminar. Otunba Onabadejo decorated me as an honorary Rotarian, but didn’t follow that up to become a full member.
I began to interact with my fellow club members of Rotary Club of Ikeja-Alausa Central during fellowship, but we got closer during our first experience at the District 9110 Conference in Abeokuta in May 2021. A new Rotary year began on 1st of July 2021, and a few months later, as we prepared for our election for the 2022/23 Rotary year, I got a call from our then club Treasurer, Rotarian Remilekun Bada. “Baba, you’re going to be our Vice President in the next Rotary year,”she said. In spite of my protests, other members had started calling me.” In the buildup to the 2022/23 Rotary year, the then incoming President, Rotarian Adebukunola Soile-Balogun, named me Public Image Chair as well as Chair of her Presidential Investiture committee. The latter task ended early in the new Rotary year, but I had to step down as Public Image Chair for the club. My news publication, Breezy NewsNG, had just been founded, and it required everything (including perhaps my blood) at that formative stage.
In the 2023/24 Rotary year, my colleagues endorsed me as President-Elect, which is the next step in being President in Rotary.
You’ve pledged to promote stakeholders’ engagement and participation. Can you elaborate on your plans to achieve this?
As a Public Relations professional, I know a little about achieving set goals. And you cannot do that without having your stakeholders on the same page with you. I have told my fellow members repeatedly that without members, there will be no club. Rotarians do not belong to Rotary International or their respective district. Every Rotarrian is a member of a club. So, my primary objective is to make my co-club members find satisfaction in being members of our club. They can only continue to spend their 4 Ts (Time, Talent, Treasure and Thought, as we say in Rotary) if they are themselves pleased with what they find in Rotary. And that experience begins from the club.
Members of Rotary Club of Ikeja-Alausa Central will then be motivated to gladly serve humanity and Rotary through participation in the activities of other clubs, the districts and Rotary International.
How do you intend to build on the achievements of your predecessor, Rotarian Olayinka Patunola-Ajayi?
Apart from my immediate predecessor, Rotarian Olayinka Patunola-Ajayi, who retired as a high-flying Permanent Secretary with Lagos State Government the same month she became President of our club, we had two other Presidents earlier. Our Charter (pioneer) President is Architect Deji Shonuga. Unlike the rest of us in the club, he had been a Rotarian at our mother club, Rotary Club of Akowonjo, and served in various capacities, including being Vice President. He did his best in ensuring that he kept the club together to fulfil the goals set for both the first three months of our club’s existence and its first full year.
Then came Rotarian Soile-Balogun, who raised the bar to an unimaginable level that our infant club emerged the third best in District 9110 at the end of the 2022-23 Rotary year. We were in competition with about 140 other clubs, and were only beaten by Rotary Club of Lagos (founded over 100 years ago), and 40-year-old Rotary Club of Gbagada. Our clubs also finished in the first three positions in three other categories.
It is on that foundation that Rotarian Patunola-Ajayi built. And she did well in keeping our club strong and going, leading us to meet all goals set for the year.
They are big shoes all our past presidents left for me. As No. 4 in the hierarchy of Presidents of Rotary Club of Ikeja-Alausa Central, I see my responsibility in the manner of a holding midfielder in a football match. This position enables me to feature as a sweeper or libero, depending on the formation or situation. I’m only first among equals, and my style is to allow each committee head and equivalent to run his or her responsibility without me unduly meddling. I’m blessed to have a team that is determined, reliable and trusted to achieve our set goals, with each one of us singing from the same hymn book. Rotary is well noted for grooming leaders. But if you don’t empower and encourage members to demonstrate leadership abilities as leaders or members of committees, they cannot function well as club presidents.
What are your top priorities for the club during your tenure as president?
No. 1 is membership retention and growth. I will work with my team to make our club fulfilling for our members, and then grow the number. We have many prospects who are at the cusp of transition to becoming Rotarians. This Rotary year, we are working towards having 10 new members.
Our We Care team is activated to be at the touch point of every member, celebrating their good moments and sharing their not-so-good times as well. Rotarians are so selfless that they look out for others (which must always be encouraged), but they hardly care about themselves.
We intend to support The Rotary Foundation with a donation of at least US$2,000 to the Annual Funds, while also working towards delivering on our service projects.
Youth service is one area we will be strong this Rotary year. Our club is featuring effectively in next month’s Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) and we are going to charter an Interact Club at Ikosi Junior High School. We will continue to nurture our Rotaract Club at Olowoira Nursery and Primary School.
Out of the Rotary Club of Ikeja-Alausa Central, a new club is in the offing this Rotary year. Details of this will be shared with you soon.
You’ve constituted a Byelaws committee headed by Rotarian Idowu Olawoyin. What specific goals do you expect this committee to achieve?
Rotary encourages the review of Byelaws from time to time. This is based on users’ (members’) experience as the club evolves. A few inconsistencies have been spotted in the current Byelaws, and the goal of the committee is to encourage members to identify areas of concern and see how we can improve on the legacies of our past administrations in terms of running our club.
The committee Chairman, Rotarian Idowu Olawoyin, is well suited for the assignment, having been active in the club since its founding. We call him ‘Jega’ (after Prof. Mahmud Jega, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission) because he has been involved in organising the elections of our club officers; and discharged his responsibility exceedingly well.
Our election is due in the first week of November, and we are committed to having revised Byelaws to organise that process.
How do you plan to engage with the community and promote Rotary’s intervention programmes?
At every of our Fellowship (meeting), we encourage members to bring with them members of the community that we serve. There is a perception that you have to have all the money in this world, or break a bank to become a Rotarian. One of our objectives is to change that perception in our own little way. We have, for instance, developed a scheme to make payment of dues flexible for those who want to join our club and for existing members as well.
Through our needs assessment, for instance, we were able to determine the best way to execute our Maternal and Child Health project at Sogunle Primary Health Centre. Members of that community are urged to benefit from the intervention, which comes up on 31st July 2024.
As a PR consultant and online media publisher, how do you think your professional expertise will enhance your role as President?
I must thank you and other colleagues in my constituency for the support I have received before assuming office, and in my first month on the task. Your support will not be taken for granted. As we move on, we need more of that, and we will celebrate our colleagues at some point during this Rotary year. The media is a critical stakeholder group that we can not but have on our side in a way that both parties will see the need to work for each other.
What message do you have for club members, and how do you plan to motivate them to achieve the club’s goals?
‘Dear fellow club member, Rotary Club of Ikeja-Alausa Central belongs to you. My stake is not greater than yours. My being President is a privilege, and makes me only first among equals’.
I have told my colleagues several times that my talent can never be more than that of a collective. I have always loved being challenged constructively. Even when they were very young, I encouraged my children to critique me. And where they are right, I imbibe their way, and offer apology, where necessary. My fellow club members have therefore been urged not to see an all-knowing President, but one who is a work-in-progress.
Friday, 26th of July 2024 is our first Variety evening. Members are assured of a relaxing time by the poolside, and one of them will go home with the recognition as the ‘Member of the Month’. An award introduced this Rotary year, it will be announced every month of this 2024/25 Rotary year, and my successors are encouraged to adopt and improve upon it.
How do you envision the club’s growth and impact in the next year, and what legacy do you hope to leave behind?
I know many eyes are focused on our club, having achieved the third best position in the 2022/23 Rotary year. I’m not averse to awards. If they come, fine. But I’m driven by leaving a strong club for my successor; one that will continue on the path of growth, and can then win laurels on a sustainable level. I will be so glad if our current President-Elect, Rotarian Tolulope Ajimotokan leads our club to No. 1 in the new District 9112 at the end of her tenure as 2025/26 President.
I want to leave for Rotarian Ajimotokan, a club that members are truly proud to belong to, and that is so fulfilling of their aspirations and the goals of Rotary that they are encourage their family and friends to join Rotary.
