Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called for concerted efforts by humanitarian service organisations in peace and conflict prevention, health, sanitation, education and literacy rate in Nigeria.
This was as he commended the efforts that the Rotary International attached to disease prevention and treatment; water sanitation, as well as material and child health.
The VP, who spoke at the official investiture of the 14th district governor of district 9125 in Abuja, appreciated the organisation’s effort to eradicate polio nationwide while acknowledging the recent feat of Mr. Kunle Adeyanju, who rode a bike from London to Lagos in support of efforts to eradicate polio.
The ceremony held at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, witnessed the formal transition of power to Dr Goddy Nnadi as the 14th District Governor of Rotary International, district 9125.
The VP who was represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters, Dr Adeyemi Dipeolu, said, “The range and scale of social and humanitarian interventions undertaken by Rotary International worldwide based on the contributions and efforts of his members, coupled with the amount of resources and manpower that Rotary International and his districts and members give to worthy causes is commendable and worthy of emulation by other social clubs, and nongovernmental organisations, as it gives true meaning to the word altruism.”
In his inaugural address, Nnadi, unveiled a 10-point agenda for his administration, which he said was people-oriented. His focus areas are: basic education and literacy, maternal and child health, disease prevention and treatment and economic and community development. Others are water, sanitary and hygiene, peacebuilding and conflict prevention/resolution and supporting the environment.
He said the district was engaging with local and international stakeholders for the production of malaria vaccine for eradication of the life-threatening disease.
Nnadi also said his administration would work with National Hospitals to have a standard blood bank for treatment of patients with blood-related ailments.
On the issue of water and sanitary, Nnadi stated that the humanitarian body intended to build separate toilets for male and female students and their teachers with a focus on reducing abuse in schools.
He said experience has shown that building separate toilets for the three groups would deal with the issue of abuse in public schools.
Nnadi will lead the District for its 2022-2023 Rotary year by providing leadership and direction for achievement of set goals. The Rotary District 9125 has 142 Rotary Clubs from 23 Clubs plus the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, under its coverage with over 1.4 million members and 46,000 clubs cut across the whole world. Each Club is headed by a President.