Rotary International President, Shekhar Mehta, has urged Rotarians in District 9110 comprising members from Lagos and Ogun States to redouble their efforts at doing good and touching lives in their various communities.

Rotary International President & soouse being welcomed with a bouquet of flowers by President, Rotakids

Rotarian Mehta who was accompanied by his wife, Rashi and Past Rotary International Vice President, Yinka Babalola, was in Lagos as apart of his official visit to Nigeria and was received on arrival by Remi Bello, FCA, Governor of Rotary International District 9110 and other leaders.

Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta & Spouse, Rashi Mehta during the tree planting exercise

The Rotary President who had earlier commissioned the Indo Eye Care Hospital as part of his Lagos visit noted that he was delighted to see Rotary’s excellent and impactful projects.

Rotary International President & spouse with Governors of the four Nigerian Districts & spouses

Mehta revealed how participating in service projects through Rotary changed him as a person and made him empathize more with the needs of others. Soon after joining his club, he helped carry out projects that benefited rural communities in India.

Speaking later at the Rotary Centre, Mehta observed the vaccination of secondary school girls against cervical cancer.

Rtn Kole Jagun, President RC Lagos Palmgrove Estate welcoming Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta as District Governor Elect, Rtn Omotunde Lawson looks on

An elated Mehta said the scourge of Cervical Cancer was real and praised District 9110 for taking up the challenge of reducing the disease.

District Governor elect, Rtn Omotunde Lawson, Past President Michael Effiong & District Secretary, Past President Ehi Braimah

Mehta stated that he wanted members to focus their efforts on empowering girls and ensuring their access to education, resources, services, and opportunities so that future generations of women leaders will have the tools they need to succeed. Mehta averred that diversity, equity, and inclusion was critical to Rotary’s work.

District Governor Nominee Ify Ejezie with PDG Mustapha

He noted that just as the organization took up the challenge of ridding the world of Polio, the fight against cervical cancer was winnable.

Rotary International President observing the Cervical Cancer vaccination programme

As a means to encourage Nigerians to care more for their environment and continue the fight against global warming, the Rotary International President also planted some trees at the Rotary Centre.

He said the gesture was not only to show that we should take actions to improve our environment but it symbolizes growth.

He said there was a need for Rotarians to grow more by introducing more people into the service organization. He said his target under the Each One Bring One, Retain All programme was to add at least 100,000 members in the next one year. Adding “If we grow more by adding more members, we would be able to also do more projects and save more lives”.

Rashi Mehta, Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta, Governor, District 9110, Remi Bello, FCA & spouse, Nike Bello

He also paid a visit to the Polio House where he was received by the Chairman, Nigeria National Polio Plus Committee, Dr Tunji Funsho, a Past District Governor, who took him on a tour of the facility.

Rotarian Mehta commended the work of the Polio Plus Committee and applauded it for its contribution to the effort that has made Nigeria and Africa free of the Wild Polio Virus.

He noted that the experience that Rotary has garnered through over three decades of Polio vaccination will be deployed to help the world fight COVID-19 pandemic and reduce the issue of vaccine hesitancy.

Past Distict Governor, Kola Shodipo, District Governor Remi Bello, Rotary International President with new AKS Donor, Rotarian Bamidele Onalaja & wife, Past President Tolulope Onalaja

In his remarks, Rotarian Bello noted that District 9110 was excited and honoured to be the first port of call of the Rotary International President’s visit to Nigeria.

He revealed that the Rotary President’s activities were carefully chosen in line with his aim of enhancing health and education for the girl-child, membership retention and expansion as well as care for the environment.

Bello said the visit was significant because it will inspire Rotarians to do more community projects, touch more lives and impact humanity.

Rotary International President with District Media Officer, Elizabeth Edozie with Rotarian Michael Effiong, Editor, Ovation International Magazine and Chairman, District 9110 Public Image Committee

Later that evening, Rotarian Mehta and his entourage were hosted to a dinner at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja were he savoured Nigerian culture, cuisine and hospitality.