Rotary District Governor Tasks Members On Membership Growth, Foundation Support
OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos
The District Governor of Rotary International District 9111, Rotarian Mrs. Bukola Olabisi Bakare, has challenged Rotarians to intensify membership growth, strengthen contributions to The Rotary Foundation and improve public awareness of the organisation’s humanitarian activities in order to expand its impact on communities.
Bakare gave the charge during her official visit to the Rotary Club of Ota on Saturday, where she met with the club’s leadership, members and traditional rulers as part of her inspection and engagement tour across the district.
Speaking after a board meeting with the club’s executives, the District Governor commended the Rotary Club of Ota for aligning its programmes with the district’s objectives and the global vision of Rotary International.
She described membership development as the district’s foremost internal priority, revealing that District 9111 had already recorded a net membership growth of 257 but stressed that the figure remained below the ambitious target set for the year.
According to her, every Rotarian must see himself or herself as an ambassador of the organisation by recruiting and retaining new members while actively engaging them in Rotary’s service projects.
“Our responsibility is no longer for each member to bring only one person into Rotary. Every Rotarian should bring more members, retain them and keep them actively engaged so that we can build a stronger organisation capable of delivering greater impact,” she said.
Bakare also urged members to embrace The Rotary Foundation, describing it as the lifeblood of Rotary’s humanitarian interventions worldwide.
She expressed concern over the low level of contributions by some clubs, noting that stronger financial support for the Foundation would enable District 9111 to access larger grants for impactful community development projects.
The District Governor however applauded AG Funke Salau, Membership Chair of Rotary Club Ota, District 9111 for the successful induction of 5 new members into the club.
She also appreciated the leaders in the club, Doyen of the Club PAG Leke Ibrahim and Pioneer District Governor District 9111 Rotarian Wole kukoyi
The DG further encouraged her to sustain the momentum and do more before the end of the Rotary year to ensure the club achieves the 30% membership growth target
The District Governor announced a special incentive designed to encourage members to become Paul Harris Fellows, explaining that to become a Paul Harris Fellow is a thousand dollars payment but she is requesting for just 500 dollars and she will match it with 500 for members who take advantage of the opportunity before the end of October.
She further disclosed that one of the district’s flagship projects for the Rotary year is the establishment and equipping of a proposed 60-bed mental health facility, estimated to require about 228,000 dollars for medical equipment alone.
Bakare said such large-scale humanitarian initiatives can only be realised through sustained contributions to The Rotary Foundation and greater collaboration among clubs.
She equally emphasised the importance of public image, urging Rotary clubs to publicise their projects and community interventions to correct misconceptions about the organisation and inspire more people to embrace voluntary service.
According to her, increased visibility of Rotary’s activities would strengthen membership, attract partnerships and enhance the organisation’s capacity to transform lives.
Earlier, President of the Rotary Club of Ota, Rotarian Fatai Adewale, welcomed the District Governor, members of her entourage and visiting Rotarians, describing the visit as a significant moment for the club.
Adewale appreciated members across the district for their solidarity and support, assuring the District Governor of the club’s commitment to delivering impactful projects that reflect Rotary’s ideal of “Service Above Self.”
As part of the visit, the delegation paid a courtesy call on the Olota of Ota, Oba Abdulkabir Adeyemi Obalanlege, who was represented by his Personal Assistant and Secretary, Prince Adeyemi Sulaimon Olusesi.
The palace commended Rotary for its humanitarian programmes and community development initiatives, praying for greater success in the organisation’s efforts to improve lives.
The Rotary Club of Ota, also commemorated the District Governor’s visit with the execution of several humanitarian projects, including the empowerment of 10 women with grants totalling N500,000, donation of N800,000 to support the treatment of a cancer patient at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), and distributed 50 school bags to pupils during the outreach programme to the Olota Palace.
Some beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the gesture, describing the support as timely and encouraging, while thanking the Rotary Club of Ota for investing in the education and welfare of young people.
Bakare reiterated that Rotary’s vision extends beyond charitable donations to creating sustainable, lasting impact through collective service, stronger partnerships and continued commitment to improving communities.
