1.       INTRODUCTION

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to this event which marks my formal installation as the District Governor of Rotary International, District 9110, Nigeria. I hereby declare my total commitment to the service of Rotary International District 9110, as District Governor for 2008-09 Rotary year.

When I was declared the District Governor for 2008 – 2009 on December 1, 2005, it was one of the most exciting and joyful moments of my life. As the day drew nearer, more responsibilities came with that declaration. This is true for any elected or appointed leader, as he has to make his plans and set his goals.

          I joined the Rotary family in 1984. Since then, it has enhanced my circle of friends, locally, regionally and internationally. It has raised my self-worth by allowing me to contribute to others in need. I truly feel that my presence on this earth can make a difference in the happiness of others. The Rotary wheel tells the world that we can be trusted and this is a responsibility that we all accept as Rotarians. Through Rotary, the ordinary has a chance to become         extra ordinary as mankind is our business.

For the sake of our guests, I wish to give a short introduction of Rotary. Rotary is the first and largest service organization in the World. Founded in 1905 by Paul Harris, it is made up of over 32,800 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. There are 532 Districts, with membership of 1.2million Rotarians, rendering humanitarian and educational services in their communities. Its motto is “Service Above Self”.
         
          Every Rotary year, the Rotary International President chooses a theme and declares his areas of emphases. This Rotary year, the theme is “Make Dreams Real” for the world’s children and the areas of emphases are:

2.       AREAS OF EMPHASES

          2.1     Water & Sanitation
         
          Water is essential to human life and many take safe water for granted. Today, 1.1billion people – nearly 20 percent of the world’s population, lack access to safe and clean drinking water and 2.6billion people are without basic   sanitation facilities.

          Every 8 seconds, a child dies from a preventable waterborne illness. Safe and available water immediately and drastically reduces a child’s risk of death from waterborne disease, the cause of 6,000 deaths daily. The UN has prioritized water access among its Millennium Development Goals because it contributes to such widespread suffering, including increased poverty, high child mortality rate    and depressed literacy levels.

          We will Make Dreams Real by giving children hope and a chance at a future by providing clean safe water to 50 communities in the District.

          2.2     Health and Hunger
         
          Health and Hunger issues affect the entire world. Preventable diseases like HIV/AIDS and malaria result in the deaths of more than six million people each year. Every year, over 6.6million children never see their fifth birthday. Good nutrition, which is necessary for healthy growth improves a child’s immune system. Many health conditions are related to hunger. Every year, more than 852 million people are malnourished, making them more susceptible to disease. In this regard, we intend to embark on related programs to address some of these issues.

          A country should value the health of its people, as a healthy nation translates to economic productivity. Voices of healthy children playing and going to schools should be the dream of every Nation. A healthy baby born to a healthy mother is the joy of not only the immediate family but the nation as a whole.

Without food, there is no health, without health, there is no hope. A healthy family can look to the future; a future beyond poverty. Health & Hunger must be tackled.

          2.2.1 Medical Centres
                   Needs Assessments had been carried out at some medical centres and orphanage homes, such as
                    -        Massy Children Hospital in Lagos
                    -        Olukoye Ransome Kuti Memorial Hospital Abeokuta (Children Ward)
                    -        Ogun State University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.
                   We shall assist the centres with a view to reducing child mortality rate.
         
          2.2.2  Intercontinental Medicare Project
                   We shall have an Intercontinental Medicare Project with some Districts from India involving 500 Cataract (EYES), 100 Orthopaedic and 100 ENT Surgeries.

          2.2.3    Proposed Jaipur Limb Workshop in Abeokuta
                   During the last Rotary Year some limbs were fixed at General Hospital,Gbagada. This Rotary Year, we would like to have a limb workshop at Abeokuta.

This will involve provision of 500 artificial limbs at Abeokuta to assist most of our children that are physically challenged and who hitherto were confined to wheel chairs. We believe that with the aid of this project many of them will be able to make use of their limps thereby gaining their freedom and becoming more independent.
                    This will be carried out with the kind assistance of District 3190 in India.     
          2.2.4  Blood Bank
                   Through Safe Blood Africa Project, we shall have two (2) blood banks at the State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta and General Hospital, Gbagada.

          2.2.5  Wheelchair Foundation
Rotary Clubs and Rotarians around the world are working with the Wheelchair Foundation to provide a free wheelchair to every child, teen and adult who needs one but has no means to acquire one. Independence is being given to people deprived of mobility by war, disease, accident, natural disaster and advanced age at a rate of up to 10,000 wheelchairs per month worldwide.
The gift of a free wheelchair immediately improves the quality of life for the recipient and entire members of the family.
         
          2.2.6  Alliance for Smiles
We are also discussing with Alliance for Smiles bringing smiles and hope to children. The joy that parents feel when seeing their newborn babies for the first time is beyond expression. But for the parents of a child born with a cleft lip and palate, the emotion is far from joyful. In a culture steeped in beliefs and superstitions, these children are looked down upon as bad luck, and their families are shamed into hiding them away or abandoning them. They know the burdens they will face and the lack of opportunity in stock for the children. For the courageous families who decide to seek medical assistance, very little is available that is financially feasible. With the average cost of surgery being around half of what a typical family earns in a year, it is clear why they feel overwhelmed and without options.

Rotary can make a difference by bringing hope and smiles to these beautiful children! By partnering with Alliance for Smiles, together we can offer the life changing surgeries that these children desperately need.

                    2.2.7  Road Accidents

                   WHO has stated that Accidents have been more responsible for more fatalities than the dreaded HIV/AIDS. The District will meet some of the needs of Federal Road Safety Commission.
         
2.3     Literacy
         
          Literacy empowers people. The ability to read and write gives a child a better chance of raising the next generation to prosperity and good health. It is the foundation for virtually all forms of education and an essential component of poverty reduction, social inclusion, and economic development.

          According to UNICEF, evidence indicates that the mortality rate for children under 5 falls by about half when mothers have primary education. Yet today, more than 800 million people in the world cannot read or write and 64 percent of them are women and girls. Children of literate mothers have a longer life expectancy than Children of illiterate mothers.
 

          In 2008 – 09, we will Make Dreams Real by making sure that more children have a chance to go to school, because it is through education that the deadly cycle of poverty can be broken. Poverty is a disaster. African        Statesman, Nelson Mandela calls it “one of the greatest assaults on human dignity.”
         
          There is Rotary Wheel School by Rotary Club of Falomo, assisted by the District.This is for the children of beggars of between ages 3 & 13 at Oko Oba, Ebute-Metta. Efforts are on to have prototype at Idi-Araba and Agege with collaboration with the Lagos State Government.

3.       ROTARY FOUNDATION

My dear esteemed guests permit me to introduce to you, the Rotary Foundation. This is Rotary’s “power engine” to do good in the world. Most of the humanitarian and educational projects executed by Districts and the clubs are supported by funds from the Foundation. The fund is made up of contributions by people of the world, Rotarians and Non-Rotarians alike. One thousand US Dollars (US$1,000) makes you a Paul Harris Fellow. You can contribute this as many times as possible and you get recognition for each US$1,000 in form of different medals and certificates. A Major Donor recognition is awarded with cumulative contributions of US$10,000.

Our biggest project to date is the Polio initiative to which Rotary Foundation has extended a whopping sum of over US$650M (Six Hundred and Fifty Million Dollars). As I speak, Polio is almost extinct from the world except in four countries to which our dear motherland Nigeria is occupying an unenviable position as a country that exports polio virus to the rest of her neighbours. This is not a good reference but it is the true position of things.

          There is the Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation grant challenge of US$100m, for which RI will match within three (3) years. But why the challenge? Bill Gate is not a Nigerian neither is he from India, Pakistan or Afghanistan, (the countries with Polio Virus). But he believes that even in a Polio free Country, the disease is just a plane ride away.

          I enjoin you to contribute towards the Foundation. Your contribution will be used to make a difference in the world and you can be rest assured that your money is in good hands. The Chairman of the Trustees, Rotary Foundation is the first black R. I. President, Jonathan Majiyagbe, SAN.

4.       CONCLUSION

          In conclusion, I wish to state that no Government or individual no matter how benevolent can single handedly solve all the problems we have in the world but the only thing we can do whether as an individual or collectively is to contribute our quota towards making a difference in the lives of others. That is exactly what I demand of you today! Please do not leave this venue without contributing towards making a difference in the world. Remember the service we all render daily is the rent we pay for our tenancy on earth.

          Finally, I give thanks to Almighty God who has made all things possible.

          It is imperative that I register my profound gratitude to Past District Governors for their guidance and wise counsel. They mentored me and provided me with the opportunities for service at the District Level. The grooming of a man is a duty we claim. I am standing on the shoulders of these giants. They have maintained the District with action and vision. I thank and appreciate all other District Leaders.

          Now, to my home club, the Rotary Club of Festac Town. I cannot thank the members enough for their belief in me and their overwhelming support right   from the nomination stage to this very moment. Rotary Club of Festac Town is made up of wonderful people. I appreciate you all. I thank our sister clubs in the Festac environs for their tremendous solidarity. To other clubs in the district, I appreciate your support, I thank you very much.

          I must not forget Ebun Sonaiya who introduced me to Rotary Club of Festac Town in 1984. He discussed Rotary with me after a medical consultation in his hospital (then in Festac Town). He said I would have more time for myself if I joined Rotary. True, Rotary has changed my life.

          I must thank all the dignitaries that have graced this occasion. I cannot mention you all individually but I am sincerely grateful. I feel greatly honoured by our most amiable former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon for accepting to chair this occasion despite his busy schedule. This is a good omen for us in District 9110 because prayer is General Gown’s business and I am sure he will never cease praying for us.

          Our Royal Father, Your Royal Highness Oba Akiolu, your presence here today is a further demonstration of the ascentral relationship between Eko and Edo. I am very grateful to you and your retinue of Chiefs. May your reign be long and remain peaceful.

          Our Guest Speaker is a personal friend of many years. We flocked together at Ikoyi when men were boys. This brilliant scholar, lawyer, senator is an embodiment of humility, a reliable friend in need. He did not allow me to go through the stress of shopping for a Guest Speaker. As soon as I approached him, he said to me, “Yisau I cannot refuse you, I’ll adjust my plans.”
         
          To my half name-sake, my fellow Rotarians, an entrepreneur per excellence, I cannot thank you enough for accepting to play this role with all its financial implications but as a silent philanthropist, I know you are a cheerful giver. God will continue to bless you abundantly and increase your coast.

          My family members had been of tremendous support and source of encouragement. I thank you all for your contributions to the success of this occasion.

          I wish to acknowledge here the amount of support I received from a very amiable elder, a PDG and in fact an uncle, a high Chief of Benin kingdom, Chief Anofi Guobadia. I cannot quantify it. I am indeed grateful for all your assistance.

          I thank the Partners of Giwa-Osagie, DFK, & Co., one of them is a Past District Treasurer of D. 9120 from Rotary Club of Yola. The other 4 Partners by their deeds and acts, are Rotarians outside the Rotary family.

          The greatest blessing anyone prays for is his family. I thank this Lady/woman, Moji who has given me comfort and home called paradise since the 70s. To my children, I say thank you for your understanding.
         
          I am indebted to you all and I can only repay by giving back to Rotary, my heart.
          Please give me your hands my friends, as Rotary is Good.
         

          May God bless you all.