From left: Chief Philip Asiodu, Nigeria’s former Petroleum Secretary and Special Guest, Mrs. Osamgbi and Rotarian Isichei Osamgbi at his investiture as 33rd President of the Rotary Club Ikoyi on Saturday in Lagos.

The Rotary Club of Ikoyi District 9110, Nigeria at a colourful and well attended event on Saturday at the Golden Gate Restaurant, Ikoyi inaugurated Rotarian Isichei Osamgbi as its 33rd President.

He takes over from Rotarian Oladele Ojogbede, who has been on the saddle in the last one year.

While speaking shortly after his investiture, Osamgbi observed that the  Rotary Club of Ikoyi has for over three decades been doing great things,  which he said remains one of the major effects that endeared him to the club, with a view touching lives, rendering service to humanity, doing good in various spheres of life and maintaining standards.

According to him, being a Rotarian in Ikoyi makes one wonder how there can be so much lack in the midst of plenty, but also observed that this is the true picture of life since everywhere one goes in the world, one sees that some people need care, some people need love and so many are in want and so someone has to fill that void, which is the Rotarian.

He said: “There is hardly anywhere you go in the world where the government does everything all alone and Nigeria should not be an exception. In these challenging times, this is the time for everyone to join hands with the government to help build the nation, filling the void, rather than sitting back to watch. Rotary is taking the initiative”.

“In the last couple of years, we have been impacting on people’s lives, immunising the nation, committing ourselves to the eradication of polio of which Nigeria is one of the few countries still under the polio scourge. Just last month, yours sincerely was there in Atlanta, United States with many other Rotarians where the world’s richest man Bill Gates and other notable world leaders joined us and raised millions of dollars to help save us from polio. And I wondered, why can’t we help ourselves to an extent to enable Gates match the funds as he promised. Now is the time to say that the journey of 1,000 miles begins with a step”.

In addition to these, it was also gathered that the club has been involved in the cleanup of beaches, giving wheelchairs to the handicap, and eradicating poverty by giving out micro credits to small businesses who need them as well as proving sights for so many people who hitherto had been threatened by blindness through its cataract surgery intervention.

On the activities of the one year under his watch, he said: “Our focus on our service projects with determination to impact on more lives at a higher standard, with projects lined up to include building of a Blood Bank, renovation and rehabilitation of the foremost Police Hospital located in Falomo, Lagos, Micro Credit Scheme to Sura Market Traders and more legal representations for unjustified incarcerations”

Others include 100 free eye screening and cataract surgeries, donation of one million books and vocational trainings for youths among several others, which the club believes cannot be done by one person alone.

He therefore said that the best and easiest way to achieve all these is by working and walking together, pledging that the club’s strength this year will be more on collective efforts with everyone participating more than ever before.

Osamgbi, who joined club seven years ago, having been introduced by Rotarian Aigbe Olotu, expressed his appreciation to his loving wife, for letting him be the person he wants to be and for supporting his life of charity.

He also thanked all that graced the occasion including Izoma and Chief Philip Asiodu, for being the parents that they have been and for influencing his life of charity, steadfastness, excellence and persistence with their charitable life, Ogbueshi Alban Ofili-Okonkwo, for teaching him hard work, commitment, justice, kindness and love for humanity as well as Professor Viola Onwuliri her for persistence in leadership, direction and development of mankind with love and kindness.