IMMEDIATE PAST DISTRICT GOVERNOR

Rotn. Somo Omoniyi

Immediate Past District Governor

PROFILE OF ELIJAH OLUWANISOMO OMONIYI.

Elijah Oluwanisomo Omoniyi was born at Iloko, near Ilesa in Oriade Local Government Council of Osun State on August 7 th, 1952 to the family of Late Samuel Omoniyi and Mrs Victoria Omoniyi (who is about 100 years old). He is the fourth of five children in the family.

Somo, as he is called, attended Local Authority Primary School, Iloko, Ijesha; Federal Government College, Warri; Kings College, Lagos and Hatfield Polytechnic, Middlesex, UK.

Professionally, Somo is an associate of London Institute of Bankers (AIB) and is registered as a full member of the Advertising profession in Nigeria (rpa) by The Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON). He is also the holder of CAM Diploma certificate. He also trained as a behavioural change communicator.

Somo started his working life with the Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and resigned his appointment as a middle level manager in February 1982 to team up with two of his friends to found the advertising firm of Impact Communications Limited. Due to differences in vision, he later formed the firm, in 1987, of Impact Corporate and Products Promotions Limited, a general-purpose advertising company. He also established in 2000, Impact Marketing Communication Ltd, a firm that specialises in behavioural change communication.

Somo is the current District Governor of Rotary International District 9110 Nigeria and has occupied several Rotary posts before his present one. He has also attended several Conventions in all continents of the world and has represented Rotary International in several capacities. Somo is married to an Iloko indigene, - Abiodun (nee Ogundipe) and between them they have three successful children.

Somo Omoniyi joined the Rotary Club of Agege as a charter member in June 1984 and served in all Avenues of Service as Director. He also served as Secretary and Vice President before becoming the 10 th President in 1993-94 during which the club won seven awards for outstanding services at the District Conference in Ijebu-Ode. As a result of this, he was appointed as District Governor Group representative (DGGR) to three clubs by the next Governor – late Juwon Adeoba.

Somo has served the District in various capacities, which include:

• District Governor Group Representative (DGGR) – 1994-95
• Secretary, GSE Committee – 1995-96
• Secretary, District Conference Committee – 1996-97
• Chairman, Public Relations Committee – 1998-99 and 2002-2003-2006-2007
• Chairman, World Understanding & Peace Day Committee – 2000-01
• Vice-Chairman, Installation Committee – 2001-02
• Assistant Governor – 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04.
• Chairman, District Conference Committee – 2002-2003
• Chairman, Installation Committee – 2003-04
• GSE Team Leader to District 7890 – 2003-04
• Chairman, District Conference Committee – 2004-2005.
• Chairman, Membership Development – 2005-06

Beyond the District, Somo has also served Rotary in Nigeria as a member of The National Polioplus Committee since 1998 and was Secretary of the Organising Committee of the World Polio Summit held in Abuja in 2002-03. The Trustees of the Rotary Foundation recently named him the recipient of the 2006-2007 African Regional Award for his work on the Polio Eradication Initiative.

Somo has never missed a District Conference since he joined Rotary and he has attended twelve Rotary International Conventions. He is also a recipient of an official citation by the Massachusetts Senate for leading a Group study exchange to the state in 2004.

Somo’s philanthropic work is known to his associates as he has offered a number of scholarships to the less privileged and has assisted or fully sponsored children of his late friends and associates including Rotarian, to tertiary institutions.

Somo is a Christian of the Methodist denomination and worships at the Methodist Church Cathedral, Festac Town where he has served as the Chairman, Harvest Committee for 3 consecutive years and is currently the Vice President of the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA).

He belongs to a number of social organisations, such as:

• Ijesha Champions Club
• Primus Club of Nigeria
• Lagos Country Club, Ikeja

Somo is happily married to Adesola Abiodun Omoniyi, a retired senior civil servant and they are blessed with three children.