In recognition of their contributions to the development of Ekiti state and humanity, the Rotary Club International, District 9125 of Ado Ekiti has presented Ekiti Pillars of Development Merit Award to some eminent personalities.
The event held at the AB Event center, Ado Ekiti, the State capital also featured the Investiture of 41st President of the Ado Ekiti Club, District 9125 of the International organization, Mr Akinwale Olasusi.
Those honoured at the ceremony included, the wife of the founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Yeye Are Modupe Babalola, Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate Spokesman, Yemi Adaramodu, a federal lawmaker, AVM Rufus Ojuawo (rtd), a Gubernatorial candidate in the 2022 election, Engr. (Mrs) Elebute Halle.
Others are, Ekiti SUBEB Chairman, Professor Femi Akinwumi, Commissioner of Environment, Ekiti State, Hon. Tosin Aluko, Special Adviser to Ekiti State Governor & Director General Bureau of Special Projects, Arc. Tope Ogunleye and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), Professor Tajudeen Bolanle Opoola.
In an interview with THE REPORTERSNG, Chairman Planning Committee, Professor Sesan Fabamise and other members said Rotary Club, as an international service organization, had the mandate to provide Humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and advance goodwill and peace around the world.
They explained that the recipents of the merit award were carefully selected considering their impacts to growth of the society and betterment of the people.
Taking the baton of leadership from the immediate Past President, Rotarian Kunle Ogunleye, the new President, Rotary Club, Ado Ekiti, Rotarian Akinwale Olasusi in his acceptance speech thanked members for the confidence repose in him to serve.
He lauded the achievements recorded by his Predecessors and promised to inject more ideas with charity projects that would move the club and society forward.
As part of the Rotarian Projects, the Club donated textbooks to some selected primary and secondary schools as part of its commitment to promote education under School on Wheel programme initiated by a former Club President, Professor Wale Olajide.
Pupils and Students who were adjudged best in an essay writing competition, organised by the Club, received cash awards while their school received an award of excellent performance for producing the best strudent in the Essay Competition.
A Guest Lecturer, from the Department of Economics in EKSU, Dr Adeyemi, spoke on the topic: ”Subsidy Removal, Floating Exchange Rate: Issues, Challenges and Surviving Strategies for the Nigerian Masses”, noting that, though, fuel subsidy removal was good, but that the short term effects had culminated in crime rate, high cost of transportation, poverty, hunger, unemployment, amongst others.
Dr Adeyemi suggested the need for people to go back to Agriculture and that the government should also ensure an increase in local production and as well guarantee adequate security.
Rotary Club International was founded in 1905 by Paul Haris at Chicago, Illinois, United States.
