Rotary Club of Akowonjo (Lagos) renovates classrooms, plants trees, donates items

Rotary Club of Akowonjo under Rotary International District 9110 in Lagos State has inaugurated some renovated blocks of classrooms and planted trees at the State Senior High School, Alimosho.

This was done by the District Governor, Rotarian Remi Bello (FCA), early in the week, as part of the club’s usual style of spreading humanitarian services to impact lives and the environment.

According to a statement obtained on Friday, the club whose aim is ensuring that society witnesses positive development, embarked on this exercise to mark the official visit of the District Governor (Bello) for the 2021/2022 Rotary year under the club’s  leadership of Rotarian President Comrade Victor Amaraegbu.

Bello espoused the philosophy of Rotary which he summed up as giving and continuous giving to society.

He said, “We give not because we are extremely rich but because we simply made up our minds to give.”

He, therefore, extended an invitation to the school’s management staff, Lagos State representative at the event and students to embrace the Rotary philosophy and join the club to better the society.

The District Governor’s entourage later attended the club’s Board of Directors meeting where he gave the club a very high mark in their strategic plan for the year and a reception at the residence of past Assistant Governor, Dr Olukayode Akinlade.

The District Governor also visited a number of places in the Alimosho Local Government including Rauf Aregbesola Nursery and Primary School, Akowonjo, where he donated quality books for the Adult Literacy Programme which the club has been sponsoring for over 25 years.

There was a visitation to the Little Saints Orphanage, Shasha, where gift items were given to the home.

The president urged children of the Little Saints Orphanage to aspire to the highest level in their lives and not see themselves as disadvantaged because they have many parents in the pubic spirited organisations and individuals that cater for their needs on a daily basis.

He assured the children and management of the orphanage of the club’s continued support for as long as it is in existence.

He also visited the Elegbeda of Egbeda, Oba Aremu Orelope Kareem Laka, who was inducted as a honorary member of Rotary Club of Akowonjo

He told the monarch that the club would always ensure that its projects were evenly spread across the whole of Alimosho Local Government Area.

In his response, Oba Kareem Laka was full of praise for the Rotary Club and other humanitarian organisations for partnering with the government to improve society and requested more social and developmental interventions in his domain for the benefit of the people.

In an interview with journalists, Bello (FCA) stated that the club of Akowonjo had gone the extra mile in ensuring that the Rotary International standard was upheld despite the global economic downturn owing to the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

He said, “Although Rotarians the world over have had their own share of financial challenges with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, I am glad we are able to tackle that to make sure the club’s dream remains intact.”

He noted that “the commissioning of the school to support education and tree planting in support and beautification of the environment as part of the seven areas of focus of Rotary International were just a tip of the iceberg compared with the grand plans we are about to execute.”

He added, “I am sure Rotary Club of Akowonjo will do more in the years to come.”

President of Rotary Club of Akowonjo, Amaraegbu, said the club had been known for its humanitarian gestures for 36 years of its existence and development activities in its catchment community, Akowonjo-Alimosho.

Speaking with reporters, Rotarian President Victor Amaraegbu said, “This is not the first time we are embarking on projects commissioning in our community; we have been doing so for 36 years now.

“It has been known as our annual rite to give back to the society. It is not about the millions we are spending annually on humanitarian services but about the awareness we are creating for people to learn how to share love and develop the society with the little they have.

“We are not getting any financial reward in return but happy making positive impact and developments in our community.”

The District Governor’s visit was rounded off with a club’s fellowship at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos where two new Rotarians were inducted as the latest addition to the teeming membership of the club.