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More Citizens in Rotary will Build Hope, Peace in Nigeria, Says ‘Governor’ Utebor

Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba
Good-spirited Nigerians have been urged to join and identify with the humanitarian activities of Rotary organisation in the country so as to build hope and peace in our communities through enhancement of quality life for the needy.
District 9141 Governor, for the Rotary Year 2023/2024, Emeke Michael Utebor, made the appeal at a press conference in Asaba, the Delta State capital, yesterday.
He said that people do.not need to be very rich before they could put smiles on the faces of the neighbours. “Rotarians are not necessarily rich people, but kind-hearted people; we join forces with others to provide better life for others as our civic responsibility.”
Mutual respect is what will give people hope and peace in the world”, Utebor stated. “For instance, understanding of your neighbours will enable to identify with them and to do a proper assessment of their needs. You then intervene where possible, so that you give to people what they really need.”
While appealing for more well-meaning individuals to join and identify with the Rotary, the District Governor stressed that no matter the ecforts of the government, the society will always require the complementary roles of the ordinary citizens to enhance quality life in the society.
“Partnership, therefore, is crucial in giving hope to the less privileged; for example, partnership with government and good-spirited individuals as well as groups will go a long way to significantly bridge the needs gap of the less privileged in our communities”, Utebor said.
Rotary International championed the elimination of Polio in the world such that only two countries, Pakistan and Afghanistan are yet to be rid of the dreaded disease, Utebor observed, adding that selfless service to the less privileged is the motivation for Rotary programmes.
He revealed that his District 9141 recently donated a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine to a hospital in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, for children with respiratory problems.
He disclosed that although Rotary International does not take part in politics as a principle, the Nigerian chapter played an unprecedented role as independent observers in the 2023 General Election due to its passion for peace and hope in Nigeria, noting that “we have written our report; and, the report speaks for itself.”
He assured that his tenure as District 9141 Governor would focus on drive for membership through promotion of the core mandate areas of the renowned international charity organisation, including Peace and Conflict Resolution; Maternal and Child healthcare; Disease Prevention; Education and Literacy; and, Environmental/infrastructural development.
Nonetheless, he appealed to beneficiaries of humanitarian intervention and assistance to endeavour to own, protect and maintain such projects.
The Executive Secretary of the district, Rtn Ifeoma Adejumo, noted that the number of units or clubs under District 9141, which spans Delta, Edo, Bayelsa and Rivers states, has grown from 51 at its creation in 2017 to 137 today, seven years later.