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Visit to Lagos: Rotary International President, Shekhar Mehta Urges Members To Do More Projects

Published

3 years ago

September 4, 2021

Editor

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.

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Edo Election: Police Acting in Interest of APC, Says Obaseki

Published

4 days ago

September 12, 2024

Eric

The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has called out the Nigerian Police Force, saying they are working in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the buildup to the 2024 Edo Governorship Election. He added that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may not sign the Peace Accord for the September 21 election.

The accord is an official agreement among political parties to be of good conduct before, during and after election.

Obaseki said the agency, the Police, responsible for enforcing the accord, have through their actions, shown that they are acting in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and waging war against the PDP.

He expressed worry that “the Police under the manipulation of the APC, has arrested not less than 10 PDP chieftains, who they perceived would be strong political opposition to them in the coming election.”

The governor who spoke when he received the Chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC) and former Military Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar said those arrested include a serving Local Government chairman, Hon. Collins Aigbogun.

He stated that the party chieftains were arrested and whisked to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Obaseki queried: “how do one enters a peace accord with an umpire who, from the onset has shown bias in favour of one of the parties in the election.”

He added: “you are very conversant with the politics of Edo State. You were here in 2020 and we had a very heated election. You know this is an off-circle election and there is a lot of attention.

“Unlike 2020, I am very worried with the developments in the State today. The party met yesterday and we might not likely sign this agreement.

“The opposition party in the State, the APC has always argued that they may not be as popular and didn’t win in the last election, but however promised to use Federal might to determine the outcome of the election.”

He added: “We thought it’s just rhetoric. But in the last four weeks, we’ve had a situation where from the office of the IGP, armed gang policemen have come into Edo State to invade, arrest and take away PDP members.”

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Ighodalo Ridicules APC’s Okpebholo, Says Edo Can’t Risk Having Illiterate As Governor

Published

5 days ago

September 11, 2024

Eric

The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has advised the electorate against voting an illiterate as the next governor.

Making a veiled reference to the gaffe by the candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Monday Okpebholo, the governorship hopeful, while addressing a crowd on Monday, said: “Edo doesn’t need an illiterate who will bring insecurity to the state”.

Ighodalo, who spoke at the Olua Primary School field, Uselu, venue of the PDP campaign rally in the Egor Local Government Area, pledged to bring out the best in the youth by harnessing their potential in a positive way for the good of all.

He said: “We will work and bring out the creative potential of our youths in a way that will benefit all. We don’t need an illiterate who will bring insecurity.

“It’s time to move forward. Ogie (his running mate) and I are very ready to work for you all. So, don’t fear, don’t worry, we’re for you all. Prosperity has come for all. Just go out on the 21st and vote early and protect your votes.”

Also speaking, Governor Godwin Obaseki said he had done his best for the state and that Ighodalo and Ogie would continue when he hands over to them.

He added: “I have done my best. Ighodalo and Ogie will continue from 12 November. We want progress. We want to move forward and not backward. Looking at the people here, you see a lot of youths. I am not surprised because Egor is home to youths. We have the University of Benin and the Benin Technical College.

Headline

Ajaero: Amnesty Int’l Accuses Tinubu of Setting Record of Impunity

Published

6 days ago

September 9, 2024

Eric

Global rights group, Amnesty International, has condemned the arrest and detention of the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, by the Department of State Services (DSS).

The Director of Amnesty International Nigeria, Isa Sanusi, said with the attack on Ajaero, President Bola Tinubu is setting a new record of impunity.

Ajaero was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Aiport in Abuja on Monday on his way to the United Kingdom for an official assignment, the NLC said.

The NLC president was billed to attend the Trade Union Congress conference in London, which begins today (Monday).

Sanusi said: “Amnesty International strongly condemns the unlawful arrest of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero by the Department of State Services (DSS) today. The labour union leader must be immediately and unconditionally released.

“The arbitrary arrest of Joe Ajaero shows an escalating crackdown on human rights and restrictions on civic space by the government of President Bola Tinubu.

“President Bola Tinubu’s government persistently attacks and undermines the operations of the NLC, through fabricated allegations, raids on NLC headquarters and other forms of harassment and intimidation. This growing culture of impunity and disdain for workers’ rights to organize and seek better welfare must stop.

“President Tinubu is setting a new record of utter disregard for the rule of law.

“Amnesty International has observed, in the last one year, the increasing crackdown by the Nigerian authorities on the labour union and civic space. The authorities continue to weaponize the police and SSS to repress the human rights of Nigerians.

“Nigeria is a party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantee the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, including trade union membership and activities. The country is also a member of the International Labour Organization, whose fundamental principles include the right to organize, are binding on all members.”

“Under international human rights law workers cannot be targeted for participating in trade union activities. The Nigerian authorities have an obligation not only to respect the rights of workers but also to protect these rights from abuse.

“Joe Ajaero is arrested solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights and must be immediately and unconditionally released,” Sanusi concluded in a statement.