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•Rotarian Katherine Sambo-Adamu at her investiture as the 8th President of the Rotary Club of Abuja CBD, flanked by other club leaders…
By Vivian DANIEL
As the Rotary Club of Abuja CBD brought to a glorious end the tenure of its Immediate Past President, Rotarian Aisha Ali, the mantle of leadership for another Rotary Year (1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025) now rests on a renowned caterer, peace ambassador and retired federal civil servant, Rotarian Katherine Sambo Adamu.
An exciting investiture ceremony to herald Adamu’s reign took place on Friday, 5 July 2024 at the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, Abuja. It was an occasion used to also raise funds to complete on-going and initiate new projects estimated to cost N83m in the club’s adopted community, Gidan Gimba in the Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State as well as the other projects in Rotary’s areas of focus.
In her welcome address, the 2024/25 Investiture Committee Planning Chairman, Rotarian Salome Garba, reiterated that the model of service Rotary International pioneered over a hundred years ago hinges on person-to-person connections and has become a global network bringing together cultural, linguistics groups and generations while ensuring that geographical barriers are broken to its barest minimum.
Salome, charter president of the club, a Paul Harris Fellow and Past Assistant Governor of the defunct Rotary International District 9125, equally stated that Rotary International theme for the year is “The Magic of Rotary,” and enjoined the guests, members and everyone else to make the magic happen by dipping their hands in their pockets and wallets to support the club carry out service to humanity.
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While giving her valedictory speech, the outgoing President, Rotarian Aisha Ali, a Paul Harris Fellow (PHF), listed her achievements to include the mental health awareness walk, sensitisation to end open defecation in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources and National Orientation Agency (NOA), Peace Walk to commemorate International Peace Day (which is usually celebrated on 21 September yearly), participation in Family Health Days’ outreach with free medical services and medication given to many in different communities, among other projects embarked upon during her tenure.
When asked by the SUNDIATA POST reporter about her most cherished milestone and advice to her successor, she said “My major achievements were meeting up with my Club’s target for the year set by me, donating to the Rotary Foundation (which is like the baby of the Rotary Club, where they draw all their resources from for different outreach programmes), taking part in the Pollio Walk and the No-To-Drug Abuse sensitisation programme. And, my advice for my successor is, first and foremost, she must see to it that members pay their dues as at when due. When your members pay their dues and you remit to the Rotary Club that is when your citation comes. One of the memories I will keep in mind is donating to the Rotary Foundation (up to one thousand dollars) which made me a Paul Harris Fellow.”
In her acceptance speech, Rotarian Adamu, also a Paul Harris Fellow, who is the 8th President of Rotary Club of Abuja CBD, thanked God for the opportunity to serve humanity in new and diverse capacities, extolled her family and friends for their unwavering support alongside lauding past presidents and members for their undeniable impact. She listed her topmost priorities as commitment to expanding Rotary’s focus and completing the club’s ongoing school project in Gidan Gimba. She solicited the cooperation of every member of the club.
She said: “I am grateful to God for life and the goodwill of CBD icons who found me worthy to become the 8th President of our noble Club. It is with great honour, a deep sense of responsibility, and privilege that I accept to pilot the affairs of our great Rotary Club of Abuja CBD in the 2024/2025 Rotary year.
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“We remain committed to expanding our focus, emphasising teamwork and collective effort. We will be steadfast on Maternal and Child Health; Water and Sanitation, Basic Education and Literacy, Environment, etc. We will zero in on membership development and retention, as well as increase our contribution to the Rotary Foundation. We will do the Magic by completing our Club projects. One of our topmost priorities is completing the primary school project we started at Gidan Gimba, along the Keffi-Abuja Expressway.
“Despite financial constraints, the Club successfully built and completed a school toilet for the teachers and pupils. However, the classroom project remains unfinished at the lintel level. As soon as the Club can raise enough funds with your generosity, work will resume immediately at the site to provide a conducive atmosphere for learning for the community in line with our focus area of Basic Education and Literacy. We will also provide unwavering support to the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA). We anticipate sponsoring over 20 young Nigerians to benefit from skills acquisition and leadership training to become better leaders in our society and beyond.”
The new president of the club enjoined all members to put their hands on deck to stand out as ideal icons and team up to put a long-lasting smile on the faces of the less privileged in their adopted community while appealing to friends, families, and well-wishers of the Club to assist the club financially to complete its projects and carry out other community services
“I will come knocking on your doors as the work progresses for your assistance, please don’t shut your doors on me,” she pleaded and pledged to be faithful, loyal, transparent, and honest in serving the club with all her strength and ability.
In his keynote speech titled “Serving Humanity for Development – The Magic of Rotary”, Chief Emeka Okonkwo congratulated Rotarian Katherine Adamu and described her as his friend, birthday mate, and kindred spirit, one whose celebration goes beyond her accolades while chanting a song that encapsulates the essence of humanity. “Reach out and touch somebody’s hand, make this world a better place if you can,” he said.
“In my journey of serving communities, I have witnessed the profound impact of small acts of kindness, each one contributing to humanity’s collective potential,” Okonkwo said and reiterated that this resonates deeply with the Rotary motto ‘He Profits Most Who Serves Best.’
He continued: “Reaching out and offering support to others is a fundamental aspect of humanity. It’s about recognising the struggles of those around us and stepping in to provide assistance, comfort, and companionship, as it creates a ripple effect, fostering a sense of community and solidarity. In the context of Rotary, reaching out embodies the spirit of service above self. Rotarians are committed to making a positive impact, whether through small acts of kindness or large-scale humanitarian projects. By being there for one another, we build stronger, more resilient communities.”
Okonkwo further emphasised that: “Envisioning a world through Rotary ideals means imagining a place where everyone is committed to serving others, where leaders prioritise the well-being of other communities, and where diversity is embraced and celebrated, alongside where integrity governs decisions while ensuring fairness and justice for all.”
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Additionally, Rotarian Evelyn Onyilo, a Past Assistant Governor, who started the Rotary Club of Abuja CBD, while responding to newsmen on how she felt about the ceremony and the Club’s accomplishments so far said “I remember how we started, although there may have been challenges at some point, it is for the good of the society, and here we are counting eight years of existence. The first project we undertook was the drilling of boreholes in the Gidan Gimba community. We were the first to take drinking water there. Before our arrival, the community was drinking water from a pond that was infested by black flies which causes river blindness. We equally did other humanitarian interventions like Maternal and Child Health where we gave the pregnant women and their children mosquito nets, etc.
“As President Katherine said, the classroom project would be completed this Rotary year, so we enjoin more people to come and join us. Rotary is not meant for millionaires or the rich alone, if you can have two square meals you are better than a whole lot of people out there. You can give whatever you have to be there for people thereby making the world a better place. Don’t just enjoy yourself alone. Belong to a relevant social network.”
While responding to a question by SUNDIATA POST on what she has to say about the Senators who are meant to represent such constituencies like the Gidan Gimba community that had no portable drinking water until the Rotary Club of Abuja intervened, Onyilo, who is also a Paul Harris Fellow, said “It is embarrassing that in a nation that is so rich, less than two kilometres away from the city centre of the nation’s capital, we still have very poor people in and around us.
“It is left to them to allow their conscience to speak to them. Our politicians must do better. They are not doing enough. In Rotary, we can only do little but they (the senators and other government officials) should do what they swore oath to do for the nation and the people therein.”
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The club used the occasion to induct new members and honoured about 17 dignitaries and members who received “Awards of Excellence” in different capacities. Among the recipients are Senator Binta Garba Masi; Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, former Governor of Kaduna State; Dr. Stephen Oronsaye, former Head of Service of the Federation; and Mrs Anastasia Nwaobia.
Other high ranking officials, individuals, and members of different Rotary Clubs who graced the occasion are Hon. Jerry Damara (Kaura Kaltungo, Sarkin Yaki), chief launcher and Pastor Dickson Meso Ibekwe, co-chief launcher. Oronsaye was Father of the day while Dame Amina E. Yakowa (First Lady of Kaduna State, 2010 – 2012), was Mother of the day. Malam Munir Jafaru (Madakin Zazzau), was Royal Father of the day.
The club got generous donations from those present.
The thrilling ceremony came to a close with a dinner party as the audience was entertained by the Bajju Cultural Troupe.
The inaugurated President Katherine Adamu led the dance as she bid everyone farewell while thanking everyone that graced the occasion for being a part of her special day.