SLUG: Nigerian takes office as president of Rotary International

A Nigerian, Olayinka Hakeem Babalola, will on Wednesday take office as the President of the Rotary International.

He is the second African to lead the global membership organization.

He is a member of the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi in Nigeria.

A statement by Rotary International said during his one-year term, Babalola will focus on strengthening Rotary’s contribution to peacebuilding and supporting sustainable, community-led solutions that address local and global challenges and improve lives.

Babalola said: “Rotary gives people the opportunity not only to make a difference in their communities, but also to grow through meaningful relationships, collaboration, and a deeper appreciation of different perspectives.

“At a time when many societies face division and uncertainty, I believe Rotary has an important role to play in building understanding, advancing peace, and creating opportunities for communities to thrive.

“As president, I look forward to highlighting and strengthening that impact around the world.”

Babalola brings to the role decades of experience advancing community development, peacebuilding, and public health initiatives across Africa.

He has been actively involved with Rotary’s Peace Center at Makerere University in Uganda – the organization’s first on the continent.

As head of Rotary’s 45,000 clubs worldwide, Babalola will lead Rotary’s top priority of ending polio.

Together with its Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners, Rotary has reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent and contributed more than US$3 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect over 3 billion children from this paralyzing disease.

He has also been deeply engaged in Rotary’s polio eradication efforts, serving on the End Polio Now Countdown to History Campaign Committee and advising the Nigeria National PolioPlus Committee.

Rotary members throughout the world develop and implement sustainable, community-driven projects that fight disease, promote peace, provide clean water, support education, save mothers and children, grow local economies and protect the environment.

More than US$5.5 billion has been awarded through The Rotary Foundation – Rotary’s charitable arm that helps clubs work together to perform meaningful, impactful service – to support these initiatives over the last 100 years.