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*New district governor Owonikoko promises reform and growth
Former National President of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, has called for stronger institutions, effective leadership and adherence to core values as essential ingredients for sustainable development and lasting impact in Nigeria.
Ganduje spoke in Abuja at the inauguration of Rotarian Sikiru Adetona Owonikoko as district governor of Rotary International District 9127, where he praised Rotary as a model of institutional stability built on service, discipline and humanitarian values.
The event brought together government officials, captains of industry, Rotarians from across the country, and friends and family of the new district governor.
Drawing on his experience in public administration, Ganduje said the challenge facing many developing countries is not the absence of policies but weak implementation structures.
“Successful implementation is only possible when you have strong institutions. We have good policies, but implementation is often flawed,” he said.
“For a sustainable institution, strong leadership, rules and regulations, respect for those rules and adherence to the institution’s core values are necessary.”
He described Rotary as a strong institution whose lasting relevance is rooted in its humanitarian mission.
“Rotary’s core value is humanitarian service,” Ganduje added.
Reflecting on his time as governor of Kano State, Ganduje recalled the resistance he encountered during the polio eradication campaign and said decisive measures were needed to protect public health.
“Parents hid their children under beds, behind their houses and even in bushes to avoid vaccinations. We had to take unconventional measures because prevention is better than cure,” he said.
“Eventually, people were convinced and Kano stopped being the epicenter of polio.”
Ganduje noted that Rotary’s role is becoming even more critical at a time when Nigeria is grappling with economic and security challenges that require stronger humanitarian interventions.
Speaking after her induction, Owonikoko outlined her priorities for the new Rotary year, with reform, membership growth, technology adoption and member appreciation at the center of her agenda.
“My first priority is reform in our district. This process has already begun,” he said.
“We must grow our membership like never before, leverage technology more effectively, and celebrate our members as valued members become even more committed to service.”
He reaffirmed Rotary’s commitment to its seven areas of focus, including education, peacebuilding, disease prevention, maternal and child health, water and sanitation, economic development and environmental protection.
“There is no compromise on these seven areas of focus. We will continue to pursue them in line with the vision of Rotary International,” Owonikoko said.
In a speech themed “Creating Lasting Impact,” Senior Special Assistant to the President for Implementation and Coordination, Dr. Aishatu Kabir, urged Rotarians to focus on strategic service, youth empowerment and community development.
Kabir said lasting impact should be measured by lives transformed rather than ceremonies, banners or the launch of new initiatives.
“The real question is: What has changed? The lasting impact isn’t the noise; it’s the legacy. It’s what remains after the cameras are gone,” he said.
“It is the child who stays in school, the community who gets clean water, the young person who chooses hope and the citizen who begins to believe again because the leadership has become honest and humane.”
He described Rotary as an organization that converts privilege into service, networks into solutions and compassion into action, adding that service initiatives must produce measurable results.
“In Nigeria, we are very good at launching things. We launch committees, programs and structures. Sometimes, by the time we finish the launch, the problem has become old and stronger. The service must go beyond the launch; it must deliver results,” he said.
Kabir also called for more investment in youth.
“No country can create a lasting impact by leaving its youth behind. Rotary must continue to mentor, train and empower youth as partners in service,” he said.
“Leadership isn’t always through the microphone; it’s through presence.”
He paid an emotional tribute to Owonikoko, describing him as a mentor and father figure whose kindness shaped his personal and professional journey.
“The most powerful impact isn’t always made public. Sometimes it happens in a labor room, an exam room, a hospital hallway or in quiet moments when someone simply says, ‘I’m here,'” she said.
“He is a leader who comes before he is invited, a mentor who sees potential before the world sees success, a builder of people, a giver of hope and a bridge to generations.”
Event chairman and Nigeria’s senior lawyer, Ahmed Raji, said Owonikoko’s commitment to humanitarian service reflected the values she inherited from her late father, who she described as one of the kindest people she had ever known.
“Sikiru is like a younger brother and humanitarian blood flows in him. I benefited a lot from his father while growing up and his memory will remain with me forever,” Raji said.
“It is therefore not surprising that he has dedicated himself to humanitarian affairs around the world.”
Raji also reflected on the origins of Rotary International, noting that the organization, founded in 1905 by Paul Harris and his friends, takes its name from the practice of holding rotating meetings among members’ homes.
Impressed by the work of Rotarians, the legal luminary jokingly declared his intention to join the organization.
“I think my coming here today is to sign up for membership. Not with the hope of becoming governor, but to be a member of the plan,” he said.
In her farewell address, outgoing district governor Dr. Nky Joy Okoro said clubs in District 9127 completed more than 1,000 service projects during her tenure, while increasing membership and contributions to The Rotary Foundation beyond initial expectations.
“You have been the driving force behind club-wide service. You have led with courage, dignity, passion and resilience. Thanks to your exceptional leadership, more than 1,000 projects have been successfully executed,” he said.
“District 9127 is structurally stronger today because of you.”
Okoro said the district has expanded its humanitarian reach through interventions in maternal and child health, education, youth development and polio eradication.
“We have touched the lives of mothers and children, empowered vibrant young leaders, strengthened local clubs, supported education, defiantly stood up to polio, expanded our collective reach, and built lasting friendships,” she said.
“Leadership changes, but service remains. Titles change, but friendship remains. The years of Rotary come to an end, but the impact of service continues forever.”
