By Adeko Ukpa

The District Governor, Rotary International District D127, Engr. Sikiru Adetona Owonikoko yesterday asked Rotarians not to be tired of donations to end Polio disease.
He said all the givings are making impact.
He said eradication of Polio is a must to save millions of children in the world.
He said sensitisation against Polio and Immunisation of children are priorities of Rotary International.
Owonikoko, who made the plea after a walk to mark World Polio Day 2026 in Abuja, said Polio eradication is non-negotiable.
He commended the Federal Government and Rotary International partners like WHO, UNICEF and National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) for effective grassroots collaboration.
He said: “This is not just the beginning and it will not be the end until every child of the world is saved.
“We have reasons to mark World Polio Day and that reasons we are not going to go out of it because Rotary International has spent so much money from the beginning in1985. We must make sure the children of the world are saved.
“I want to thank the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Health, for giving us all what it takes through the Primary Healthcare Centres to get to all communities across the country in getting all the children immunised. We want to say thank you. But our thanks goes to the Almighty, Rotarians, Rotaractors, BIll Gates Fonund, WHO, UNICEF, NPHCDA and other partners.
“To Rotarians, all your givings to The Rotary Foundation are making impact. Not only today, you have been giving since we signed agreement to ensure children are saved.
“I want to plead with you, we should not be tired, the donations should continue, the sensitisation must not stop, the eradication is a must for us and we have to keep polio at zero as we promised.”
The Vice Chairman of the Nigerian National PolioPlus Committee (NNPPC), Dr. Kazeem Mustapha, who is also a Past District Governor, said Rotary is sustaining the EndPolioNow campaign to protect children all over the world.
He said “immunisation is a key preventive precaution against Polio or any disease.”

L-R: Mrs. Aiodiah Stephen, Winner of the 2026 Pedals Against Polio 2.0, Stephen Christian Mamman, PGD Kazeem Mustapha, District Governor 9127, Engr. Sikiru Adetona Owonikoko, Mr. Stephen Mamman Anumkwen, Assistant Governor, Rotary Club Wuse Central, Zainab Omowunmi Owonikoko, District Polio Plus Committee Chair, Mariam Ahmed, Deputy Incident Manager, National Polio Emergency Operations Centre, Dr. Adeola Musa Oluwatoyin, during the 2026 Walk to End the Polio Now, held in Abuja, yesterday
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On her part, the District Polio Committee Chair, Mrs. Mariam Abdullahi said a polio-free world is achievable.

She said: “Today, on World Polio Day, we stand together to reaffirm one promise: we will not rest until every child is protected and our world is polio-free.
“To the clubs of District 9127, I charge you today to continue to participate actively. Organize immunization drives, raise awareness in your communities, and give your resources. Polio has no place in our future, and your action is what will push it into history.
“To our valued partners snd our volunteers — you are the heartbeat of this mission. You brave the sun, the rain, and difficult terrain, offering your best at all times so that no child is missed. We see you, and we salute you.”

By Adeko Ukpa

The District Governor of Rotary International District 9127, Engr. Sikiru Adetona Owonikoko yesterday said the war against Polio disease is winnable.
He said the EndPolioNow campaign of the Rotary International in has saved over 20m children from being crippled.
He appealed to Nigerians to immunise their children against poliomelytis.
He asked Rotarians not to give up the campaign until Polio is completely eradicated.
He pleaded with members of the district to mark World Polio Day on October 24th with renewed vigour to put an end to the disease.

The District Governor, Rotary International District 9127, Engr. Sikiru Adetona Owonikoko (Third left) and other leaders with EndPolioNow campaign symbol on Wednesday in Abuja.

Owonikoko, who made the submissions at the unveiling of three sensitisation billboards in three strategic locations in Abuja by the District, the Rotary Club of Abuja Metro and friends of the district, said Polio is still endemic in two countries.
He said: “With the commitment of Rotary International since 1985, we have shown that the war against Polio is winnable. It is a disease we have proved to the world can be eradicated.
” I appeal to Rotarians in this district not to give up until we ensure complete eradication of Polio in the world.
“We have saved more than 20m children from paralysis. As we mark this year’s World Polio Day, we should rededicate ourselves to immunisation of children. ”
On his part, the President of the Rotary Club of Abuja Metro, Engr. Michael Oluwagbemi said: “What we are doing here is raising awareness to the effects of Polio. And you know communication is 90% of the job.
“When people don’t know any epidemic is still around, they take it easy. When we take it easy, bad things happen.The awareness of fighting Polio is very critical.
“We want to present these billboards as reminders that our work is not yet done until we eradicate the disease completely such that in the next 100 or 200 years, humanity will talk about it as history not as something active. Then our job is sorted”.

…As Ganduje harps on stronger institutions, values-driven leadership

By Adeko Ukpa, Abuja

Rorary International District 9127 Governor, Rotarian Sikiru Adetona Owonikoko has outlined his priorities for the new Rotary year, with reform, membership growth, technology adoption and member appreciation at the centre of his agenda.

Owonikoko spoke during his investiture as District Governor of Rotary International District 9127 in Abuja on Saturday.

The event brought together government officials, captains of industry, Rotarians from across the country, and friends and family members of the new district governor.

“My first priority is reform in our district. That process has already commenced,” he said.

“We must increase our membership like never before, leverage technology more effectively and celebrate our members because appreciated 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 regarding these seven areas of focus. We will continue to pursue them in line with Rotary International’s vision,” Owonikoko said.

L-R: Chairman of the Occasion, Dr. Ahmed Raji SAN, District Governor 9127, Engr. Sikiru Adetona Owonikoko and his wife Hajiya Zainab Owonikoko, during the investiture of the Rotary International District Governor for District 9127, Engr. Sikiru Adetona Owonikoko, held at the Transcorp Hilton Hotels in Abuja, yesterday

In his remarks during the ceremony which took place at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, in Abuja, a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, called for stronger institutions, effective leadership and adherence to core values as essential ingredients for sustainable development and lasting impact in Nigeria.

Ganduje praised Rotary as a model of institutional stability built on service, discipline and humanitarian values.

Drawing from his experience in public administration, Ganduje said the challenge facing many developing countries was 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 faulty,” he said.

“For a sustainable institution, you need strong leadership, rules and regulations, compliance with those rules, and adherence to the core values of the institution.”

He described Rotary as a strong institution whose enduring relevance is rooted in its humanitarian mission.

“The core value of Rotary is humanitarian service,” Ganduje added.

Reflecting on his time as governor of Kano State, Ganduje recalled the resistance encountered during the polio eradication campaign and said decisive measures were necessary to protect public health.

“Parents hid their children under beds, behind their houses and even in the bushes to avoid immunisation. We had to adopt unconventional measures because prevention is better than cure,” he said.

“Eventually, people became convinced, and Kano ceased to be the epicentre of polio.”

Ganduje noted that Rotary’s role was becoming even more critical at a time when Nigeria was grappling with security and economic challenges that required stronger humanitarian interventions.

Chairman of the occasion and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ahmed Raji, said Owonikoko’s commitment to humanitarian service reflected the values he inherited from his late father, whom he described as one of the kindest people he had ever known.

“Sikiru is like a kid brother, and humanitarian blood flows in him. I benefited a lot from his father while growing up, and his memory will forever linger with me,” Raji said.

“It is therefore no surprise that he has dedicated himself to humanitarian affairs across the world.”

Raji also reflected on the origins of Rotary International, noting that the organisation, founded in 1905 by Paul Harris and his friends, derived its name from the practice of rotating meetings among members’ homes.

Impressed by the work of Rotarians, the legal luminary jokingly declared his intention to join the organisation.

“I think my coming here today is to enrol my membership. Not with the hope of becoming governor, but to be a floor member,” he said.

In her valedictory address, outgoing District Governor Dr Nky Joy Okoro said clubs across District 9127 executed more than 1,000 service projects during her tenure while increasing membership and contributions to The Rotary Foundation beyond initial expectations.

“You were the driving force of service at the club level. You led with courage, dignity, passion and resilience. Through your exceptional leadership, over 1,000 projects were successfully executed,” she said.

“District 9127 is structurally stronger today because of you.”

Okoro said the district expanded its humanitarian reach through interventions in maternal and child health, education, youth development and polio eradication.

“We touched the lives of mothers and children, empowered vibrant young leaders, strengthened local clubs, supported education, stood defiantly against polio, expanded our collective reach and built lifelong friendships,” she said.

“Leadership changes, but service remains. Titles change, but friendship remains. Rotary years come to an end, but the impact of service continues forever.”

In a keynote address on the theme, “Creating Lasting Impact,” Senior Special Assistant to the President on Delivery 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? Lasting impact is not noise; it is legacy. It is what remains after the cameras leave,” she said.

“It is the child who stays in school, the community that gets clean water, the young person who chooses hope, and the citizen who begins to believe again because leadership became honest and human.”

She described Rotary as an organisation 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, programmes and frameworks. Sometimes, by the time we finish launching, the problem has grown older and stronger. Service must go beyond launching; it must deliver,” she said.

Kabir also called for greater investment in young people.

“No country can create lasting impact while leaving its youth behind. Rotary must continue to mentor, train and empower young people as partners in service,” she said.

“Leadership is not always by microphone; it is by presence.”

She paid an emotional tribute to Owonikoko, describing him as a mentor and father figure whose kindness had shaped her personal and professional journey.

“The most powerful impact is not always made public. Sometimes it is made in a labour room, an examination hall, a hospital corridor, or in quiet moments when someone simply says, ‘I am here,’” she said.

“He is a leader who arrives 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.”

END