President of Abuja Jabi Lakeside Celebrates Rotary Club at 120

Today, we celebrate our family, Rotary at 120,g having been birthed on 23 February 1905.

Paul Harris and his friends, Gustavus Loehr, Sylvester Schiele and Hiram Shorey gathered in Chicago, USA and formed the Rotary Club of Chicago, so that professionals with diverse backgrounds can exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Over time, Rotary’s reach and vision gradually extended to humanitarian services.

As we celebrate them and what they stood for, it is pertinent that we note that these were professionals who sought for an avenue to meet so they could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Little did they know that their humble gathering in Chicago will eventually metamorphose into a global movement that has, and continues to transform millions of lives across continents.

Dear Rotarians, Rotary stands for Service Above Self. It celebrates fellowship, integrity, diversity, leadership, and service. Over the past 120 years, Rotarians before us have carried the torch of service in education, healthcare, peace-building, disease prevention and eradication, and numerous causes that uplift humanity. In our communities, people have looked up to the magic we create with the things we do. By tackling global challenges like eradicating polio, and more recently, the malaria scourge, Rotary has remained steadfast in its commitment to making the world a better place.

Today should not be just about parties. We should note that the responsibility of upholding Rotary’s ideals rests with us. The foundation of Rotary has been laid by Paul Harris and his friends; it is our duty now to build upon it. We must continue to embrace selfless service, foster ethical leadership, and work tirelessly to address the pressing needs of our communities.

Unfortunately, we cannot continue to pretend as if we are unaware of the sad reality that some of us – leaders, that is – have fallen short in ethics, and other expectations of leaders. Some of them are so shameful to listen to, and a celebratory day like this will not be nice to share some of those stories. Subsequent editions of my writing may lay some of those antics bare, in the hope that people will read, reflect, and realign their behaviours.

How can we, in our various clubs, committees, and districts, strengthen the impact of Rotary in our communities? How can we innovate and adapt to the changing needs of society while staying true to the core values of Rotary? The answers lie in our collective resolve to serve with greater dedication, to mentor the next generation of Rotarians, and to constantly expand our reach to those in need.

Today, to celebrate Rotary@120, 12 members of RC Abuja Jabi Lakeside donated $120 each to The Rotary Foundation. This is in addition to two members who made donations of $1000 to become Paul Harris Fellows, PHF, swelling our PHF rank to 35. We are grateful to these selfless Rotarians.

As we mark 120 years of selfless service, let us rededicate ourselves to the virtues of Paul Harris and his friends. Let us continue to be light in places of darkness, bring joy in moments of gloom, hope in moments of despair, and a voice for those who cannot speak up for themselves. The journey is still far, but we must run our lap, and ensure that Rotary’s legacies of service endures for generations to come

Happy 120th Anniversary to Rotary International! Cheers to all of us.

Vive le Rotary!!!


Amobi OGUM, a Rotary Major Donor and the President of Rotary Club of Abuja Jabi Lakeside, writes from Abuja
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What do you all think about this?
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"Happy 120 year anniversary"
Shebi na wetin we go use greet be that? 😅
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Happy Anniversary!!
4 2

Happy anniversary
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