Rotary International celebrates philanthropist, journalist Joseph Ohens

Rotary International is set to honour worthy philanthropist and journalist Dr Joseph Ohens for his immense contributions to humanity.
The award of Excellence in Community Development will be presented on Monday October 30 in Lagos specially by the Rotary Club of Akowonjo, which is under the Rotary International, District 9110.
The club in a statement said, “This award is for distinguished individuals in community development which is one of the very important seven areas of focus of the Rotary International.
“Over the years, Dr Ohens has distinguished himself as a people-oriented person who derives fulfilment from offering a helping hand to those around him and giving back to the community.
“He is renowned in the United States as a champion of quality higher education for Nigerians who seek graduate degrees in the North America.
“He assists Nigerians with admission into Ivy League schools in the United States and top schools in Canada, as part of his commitment to human capital development.”
Back home, the club recalled that in 1999, Ohens single-handedly tarred a street in the Ogba area of Lagos; installed street light, and provided the inhabitants of the area with pipe-borne water.
“He recently extended his philanthropic gestures to his hometown of Opoji in the Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, where he sunk two boreholes to supply water to his people. “The difficulty and high cost of sinking boreholes in that part of Edo State and the significance of the water scheme to his people made its execution and completion a turning point in the community” he stated.
It described Ohens as a crusader for good governance, social justice, and equal opportunity for all.
It also said, “Through his indefatigable leadership and coordination, he convinced illustrious old boys of his alma mater, Annunciation Catholic College, Irrua, Edo State, to pull together $1.5m (N1.7bn) to rebuild the secondary school.
“On Saturday, October 21, 2023, ten unique infrastructural projects built by philanthropic old boys of the school were commissioned by the Edo State government.”
Ohens practised journalism from 1989 to 2001 at the Nigerian Observer and CityNews newspapers, where his journalism career blossomed as General Manager and Editor-in-Chief during the crusade for Nigeria’s return to democracy in the General Babaginda and Abacha eras.
Ohens studied journalism at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, law at the Lagos State University, Ojo, and earned his Master of Laws and Doctor of the Science of Law degrees from the prestigious University of California Berkeley School of Law.
According to the statement, Ohens currently works for a major healthcare system in the California North Coast as a Senior Vice President, with direct oversight of compliance, risk managment, privacy, patient safety, and quality improvement.
He is also an adjunct professor of law and teaches Advanced Legal Writing and US Health Systems and Policy.

“The Rotary Club of Akowonjo is therefore, proud to be associated with this illustrious and distinguished Nigerian and community builder,” it stated.