Rotary’s growth prospects in Africa

Close to 1,000 Rotarians from around the world gathered in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, to learn and share knowledge at the 4th All Africa Zone 22 Rotary Institute which was held at Sofitel Hotel from September 5-10, 2022. The institute was convened by Patrick Chisanga, Rotary International Director (2022-2024) for Zones 21 and 22.

Other Rotary leaders present included Past Rotary International Vice President (PRIVP) Yinka Babalola; Dean Rohrs, Trustee of The Rotary Foundation (2020-2023) and Director of The Rotary Foundation for Zone 22; Past District Governor (PDG) Tunji Funsho, PDG Deinde Shoga (RRFC, Region 27), Endowment and Major Gifts Adviser, Pearl Ijeoma Okoro and Sunny Akuopha, District Governor (DG) of District 9101, the host district.

Rotary is an international fellowship and humanitarian service organisation founded in 1905 by Chicago attorney, Paul Harris, with over 1.4 million members in more than 200 countries and territories of the world. Since Africa – comprising 17 Districts with three regions – became a full-fledged Zone four years ago, the three previous institutes were held in Egypt (2019), Uganda (2020) and Cameroon (2021).

Speaking at the opening plenary of the Institute in Abidjan, Rotary International President (RI), Jennifer Jones, was optimistic when she said Africa is no longer the future of Rotary. “That future is here with us and it is now,” Jones declared emphatically. “I’ve been in Africa for 19 days and I’m impressed with the great impact we are making in people’s lives and the way we tell our stories,” she continued, with a glow of excitement on her face.

Obviously thrilled by the prospects of growth of Rotary in Africa as we imagine a better world, Jones – who was accompanied on the trip by her spouse, Nick Krayacich, a medical doctor and district governor nominee – is confident more people will join the organisation because of the passion displayed by Rotarians for community service. “There’s so much we can do together to attract more people into Rotary through our actions as volunteers and by being open to them,” Jones added. From Abidjan, she headed to Accra, Ghana in continuation of her African tour.

RI President Jones used the opportunity of the institute to decorate the vice president of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, Tiemoko Kone, with a Paul Harris Fellow (PHF) pin after $8,000 was raised by members of the host organising committee that was headed by PDG Marie-Irene Richmond Ahoua, a senator of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire. The committee, under her leadership, showed great capacity for successfully hosting the international event.

The recognition accorded VP Kone as a Paul Harris Fellow did not come as a surprise. During his keynote address, Kone announced that the government of Cote d’Ivoire agreed to support the institute with CFA100 million (about $158,000) because of what Rotary stands for: building goodwill, cultivating friendship, sharing fellowship, forging partnerships, promoting peace and serving humanity around the world. When he announced the donation, it was followed by a thunderous ovation by an appreciative audience.

Rotary International continues to engage Africa on different fronts to achieve long-term sustainability. The beneficiary of the first-ever annual Programmes of Scale, a $2 million grant awarded by The Rotary Foundation (TRF) through a highly competitive process, was Partners for a Malaria-Free Zambia (PMFZ). This grant is matched by $2 million each from World Vision and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, making it $6 million.

The programme which was flagged off by RI President Jones when she visited Zambia before coming to Abidjan for the institute is aimed at reducing malaria by 90% in 10 highly affected districts within two provinces of Zambia. The Rotary Foundation Trustees’ chair, John Germ, noted that the programme is an “ambitious but achievable goal”.
The second TRF Programmes of Scale award also came to Africa – this time, the beneficiary is Nigeria. The four districts in Nigeria will work together with the $6 million grant to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in the 36 states. The grant will be disbursed over a three-to-five-year period. According to Rotary Regional Foundation coordinator (RRFC) Deinde Shoga, the Programmes of Scale are designed to be implemented with experienced partners who are also committed to long-term success and sustainability.

During the flag parade by the 54 African countries at the opening plenary, the excellently choreographed performance by the Nigerian team was clearly a showcase of the Nigerian spirit of fellowship and exhibition of the sense of community that we are known for. District Governor of District 9110, Omotunde Lawson, FCAI alongside her Nigerian compatriots, DG Mightyman Aye Dukoro of D9141; DG Goddy Nnadi of D9125; DG Grace Okaro of D9142 with other Rotarians, danced “Buga”, the popular Afro-beat hit song by Nigerian Kizz Daniel, joyfully. As they danced and marched forward with the Nigerian flag, the audience sang along which was clearly an acknowledgement and wide acceptance of “Buga”. Not surprisingly, there was palpable excitement on the faces of the Nigerian delegation. With “Buga”, our outing was special and it couldn’t have been louder.

What followed later during the gala was a celebration of the distinction achieved by District 9110 as the recipient of two awards from The Rotary Foundation: Top Annual Fund contributing District in Zone 22 for 2021-22 and third highest contributing District in Zone 22 for 2021-22.

The mood was festive amongst District 9110 delegates when DG Lawson, FCAI; District Governor Elect Ifeyinwa Ejezie, District Governor Nominee Oluwole Kukoyi, District Governor Nominee Olufemi Adenekan, Immediate Past District Governor (IPDG) Remi Bello, FCA and PDG Bola Oyebade stepped onto the stage to receive the awards. Conspicuously missing was the highly anticipated award for the District that admitted the highest number of members into Rotary in Zone 22 for 2021-22. Rotarians from District 9110 waited anxiously for the announcement to be made but no explanation was offered for the omission. It is on record that the remarkable membership growth achieved by District 9110 was mainly responsible for the provisional approval granted by RI to split our District into two when IPDG Remi Bello was the DG.

However, District 9110 had earlier been declared the winner of the Membership award by RI Immediate Past President, Shekhar Mehta, at the Houston, Texas, USA Convention in June 2022.

Nevertheless, the fact remains that the strategic goal declared at the Institute by Rotary International Director Chisanga is to grow membership in Africa from its current 44,500 members in 1,775 clubs to about 50,000 before the next Institute holding in Lusaka, Zambia from September 4 – 10, 2023. Africa Zone 22, as part of its growth strategy, should aim at becoming two Zones as soon as possible. It will guarantee a permanent seat for Africa on the Rotary International Board.

DG Omotunde Lawson, ably supported by her spouse, Rotarian Francis Akingbade Lawson, led the delegation from District 9110 to the Institute. The delegates included DGE Ifeyinwa Ejezie, DGN (Dr) Oluwole Kukoyi and his spouse, Olusola; DGN Olufemi Adenekan, PDG Deinde Shoga, PDG Kamoru Omotosho, PDG Pat Ikheloa, PDG Kola Sodipo, PDG Jide Akeredolu, PDG Bola Oyebade and IPDG Remi Bello, FCA.

Others were the District Secretary, Assistant Governor (AG) Azuh Arinze; AG Ehi Braimah who is the Chair, District Editorial Committee/Editor-in-Chief of The Governor; a monthly publication of District 9110; AG Sola Benson, Past Assistant Governor (PAG) Ben Okhumale, PAG Layi Abidoye, Assistant Rotary Public Image Coordinator (ARPIC) for Region 27, Michael Effiong James; Past President Uzoamaka Egbuna, Imaginative President Tunde Laleye of the Rotary Club of Victoria Garden City, AG Nike Maiyaki of the Rotary Club of Ikoyi and PDRR Constance Jaiyelola. The other three Districts in Nigeria were also represented at the Institute.

Our DG and her spouse were decorated as Major Donors Level 2 and Bequest Society members by RI President Jones. DG Lawson used the opportunity to present copies of the July and August 2022 editions of The Governor, a monthly publication of District 9110, to Jennifer Jones. PDG Deinde Shoga, Rotary Region Foundation Coordinator for Region 27, was also decorated as a Bequest Society Level 1 member by the RI President.

Before we left Nigeria for Cote d’Ivoire, the District 9110 Institute Committee headed by past President Oladele Ajayi was responsible for planning and organising the trip. The committee was mindful of every little detail – including flight and accommodation logistics. Past President Ajayi, relying on his previous experience as an institute organiser and promoter, ticked the relevant boxes for a wholesome experience. He was assisted by Past President Tawa Ayeni and Past President Babatunde Yusuf who were also in Abidjan.

DG Lawson returned to Nigeria with the first batch of delegates on Sunday night, the day after the institute closed. Before the delegation left for the airport, we had lunch on the premises of Felix Houphouet-Boigny University which was facilitated by the DG Lawson for D9110 delegates with the support of some Rotarians.

We had in attendance PDG Joshua Hassan of District 9125 and Chairman of the Nigerian National PolioPlus Committee (NNPPC) as well as Manuela Matambo, the DG of District 9210 who is a close friend and colleague of DG Lawson. DG Matambo was accompanied by her spouse, a past district governor. He was busy capturing those unforgettable moments with his camera as he took beautiful photographs of the delegation which he happily shared with us.

Hospitality management support was extended to the District 9110 delegation by dutiful and dependable Rotarian Samuel Dada, a Nigerian based in Abidjan and a member of the Rotary Club of Abidjan Horizon. He served as our guide, using his goodwill and connections to facilitate a wonderful experience and enjoyable stay for the delegation by working closely with the District Institute Committee.

Rotarian Dada holds a PhD in strategic leadership, entrepreneurship and governance and he is currently working on another PhD in sociolinguistics and applied linguistics in French Language at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny University, Abidjan-Cocody. Dada is the vice president and head, Inter-Institutional Partnership & Collaboration at the University of Abidjan, a growing private bi-lingual (French-English) institution at Rivera-Attoban, Abidjan. He is also a Language Consultant for the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The Rotary Institute is an opportunity annually for past, present and incoming district and senior leaders to share information, network, meet new friends and reconnect with old ones.

As leaders, the institute is a forum for participants to draw inspiration from the training in order to serve and lead in their respective communities for greater accomplishments. The institutes usually meet for three to five days where local and international speakers exchange ideas about Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation – the non-profit arm of the global service organisation.

Typically, the programme includes a report on polio eradication efforts, contribution to TRF and how to tell our “People of Action” stories. Past Rotary officers often participate as speakers, panellists, discussion leaders and Institute committee members. EMGA Ijeoma Okoro (District 9141), PDG Joshua Hassan (District 9125) and PDG Dolapo Lufadeju (District 9125) representing Nigeria made presentations at the Abidjan Institute.

The schedule of events also features touristic events such as tours, sightseeing and shopping, in addition to social and cultural outings which are usually the high points of the closing gala.

Braimah is a public relations strategist and publisher/editor-in-chief of Naija Times (https://ntm.ng)