From Adeko Ukpa

Rotary International President-Elect, Olayinka Hakeem Babalola, has challenged Rotarians across the world to intensify membership growth and retention efforts, setting an ambitious target of 1.25 million Rotarians and 125,000 Rotaractors globally by 2030.

Babalola issued the charge while outlining his vision for the organisation, urging members to surpass previous achievements and strengthen Rotary’s capacity to create lasting impact in communities.

“As Larry said, we have a goal of 1.25 million Rotarians and 125,000 Rotaractors by 2030. Each new member represents a person who has not yet had their Rotary story. They are out there. And they are waiting for us to welcome them,” he said.

The incoming Rotary International President challenged clubs to exceed their historical performance in membership recruitment and retention.

“So here is my challenge to you: Look back at the last five to seven years in your club. Find your best year for membership growth and retention. Then do better than your best,” he declared.

CAPTION: L-R: The Incoming Rotary International President, Yinka Hakeem Babalola; the outgoing Rotary International President, Francesco Arezzo; and the Rotary International President Nominee, Larry A. Lunsfor at a Meet-The- President session during the RI Convention Taipei, Taiwan

Babalola described Rotary as a transformative movement that changes lives through service, fellowship and leadership, urging members to share their personal experiences to attract new generations into the organisation.

“Every Rotary member has a story, a moment when fellowship and service stopped being what you did and became who you are,” he said.

“I want us to tell more stories about how Rotary has changed each and every one of us. Because when we do, we show the world that Rotary is more than a service organisation. It is a transformative experience.”

Drawing from his personal journey of more than 40 years in Rotary, Babalola recounted how a literacy project he participated in as a young Rotaractor shaped his lifelong commitment to service.

“My club took on a literacy project when I was a young Rotaractor. We were helping adults in my community learn to read and write. During that project, I watched a woman hold a piece of paper and read her own name for the first time.

“That moment redirected me. I was not simply a young man with opportunities anymore. I was a young man with a responsibility to extend those opportunities to others,” he said.

Babalola unveiled “Create Lasting Impact” as the theme that will guide his presidency, stressing that Rotary must focus on sustainable change rather than short-term achievements.

“In Rotary, we give members a place to belong. We help keep students in school. We organise vaccination campaigns that protect children. These results are real, and they matter deeply. But to create lasting impact asks a harder question: What happens next?” he said.

According to him, Rotary’s future growth must be anchored on meaningful service, peacebuilding and community transformation.

“Peace must be deliberately pursued. It must be built into the design of what we do, not assumed as a by-product,” he stated.

He cited Rotary’s peacebuilding efforts in Colombia as an example of how the organisation is helping communities recover from conflict through leadership development, economic empowerment and reconciliation initiatives.

Babalola also paid tribute to past Rotary leaders, particularly his late friend and mentor, SangKoo Yun, whose philosophy of leadership as “one link in a strong, unbroken chain” he said continues to inspire the organisation.

“Together, we are an unbroken chain, and to grow, we must forge new links in that chain,” he said.

As he prepares to assume office, Babalola called on Rotarians worldwide to seize the opportunity to expand Rotary’s reach and deepen its impact.

“This year is our turn to forge the next link in that chain. Our turn to be changed by Rotary. To build the future we wish to see. To pursue peace deliberately. To Create Lasting Impact — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves,” he said.

From Adeko Ukpa, Abuja

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has congratulated Senegal’s newly elected Speaker Ousmane Sonko, while accusing President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of betraying the trust of the Senegalese people and abandoning the reform ideals that brought his administration to power.

Frank, in a statement on Wednesday, said the growing political crisis in Senegal reflects what he described as a painful betrayal of the revolutionary vision championed by former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and the PASTEF movement.

According to him, millions of Senegalese youths who supported the movement in pursuit of accountability, sovereignty and institutional reforms are now disillusioned by what they see as a gradual return to the old political order.

Frank noted that Sonko played the central role in reshaping Senegal’s political landscape long before President Faye emerged on the national stage, describing the Prime Minister as the symbol of resistance against the former administration of ex-President Macky Sall.

The international affairs advisor said Sonko inspired a generation of young Senegalese demanding political and economic independence, institutional reforms and freedom from foreign influence.

The former APC spokesman recalled that after Sonko’s strong performance in the 2019 presidential election, he became the country’s most formidable opposition figure, leading to what he described as years of political persecution, controversial arrests and legal battles aimed at preventing him from becoming president.

Frank argued that despite imprisonment and eventual disqualification from contesting the 2024 presidential election, Sonko remained committed to the movement and mobilised supporters from detention to back Faye as the candidate of continuity for the PASTEF vision.

“Without Sonko’s sacrifices, political structure, popularity and influence among Senegalese youths, Bassirou Diomaye Faye would almost certainly never have become president,” Frank stated.

He added that even President Faye publicly acknowledged Sonko’s role during his inauguration by crediting him for the movement’s victory and sacrifices.

Frank, however, alleged that shortly after assuming office, the Faye administration began deviating from the ideals that inspired the movement, particularly through the alleged return of individuals associated with the former Macky Sall administration into positions of influence.

He further accused President Faye of allegedly taking Senegal back under French influence contrary to the aspirations of the reform movement.

“The fight between President Faye and PM Sonko is mainly because President Faye has betrayed the trust reposed in him by the Senegalese people by taking Senegal back to the control of France,” Frank alleged.

He said many supporters of Sonko now view the development as a betrayal of the revolution they fought for and fear that the political establishment the movement sought to dismantle is quietly regaining influence.

Frank maintained that Sonko remains the authentic face of the struggle for a new Senegal built on economic independence, youth empowerment, institutional reforms and African self-determination.

He urged Senegalese citizens to remain steadfast and continue supporting Sonko’s leadership and long-term vision for the country.

The United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, also advised Sonko to begin building broader international alliances, particularly with the United States and other global partners willing to support democratic development and economic growth without undermining Senegal’s sovereignty.

According to Frank, Senegal stands at a critical crossroads between genuine reform and a return to entrenched political structures.

He warned that history would judge whether President Faye upheld the revolutionary ideals that brought him to power or aligned himself with the establishment the Senegalese people voted to reject.

From Adeko Ukpa

The French Government has selected Manji Wilson, an aide to Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, for the prestigious 2026 Future Leaders Invitation Programme.

It is a programme of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Wilson is the Chief Technical Adviser on Development Partnerships, Strategic Linkages and Diaspora Engagements to the governor.

He has emerged as Nigeria’s sole representative for the 2026 edition of the Programme, also known as Programme d’Invitation des Personnalités d’Avenir (PIPA) – a flagship leadership initiative organised under the patronage of the Government of France.

The programme, facilitated through the Embassy of France, is designed to strengthen strategic engagement between France and a new generation of influential African leaders driving governance reforms, diplomacy, innovation, enterprise and sustainable development across the continent.

Wilson’s selection is being viewed as a major boost to Plateau State’s growing international profile.

The choice is also an endorsement of the state government’s efforts to deepen global partnerships and attract development opportunities under the leadership of the governor.

The Future Leaders Invitation Programme brings together outstanding policymakers, entrepreneurs, academics, reformers and public sector leaders from Africa and France who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, institutional impact and commitment to international cooperation.

Over the years, the initiative has become an important platform for strengthening Franco-African relations, promoting cross-border collaboration and building a network of emerging leaders positioned to shape future policy, investment and development conversations globally.

Wilson’s emergence for the programme reflects his growing influence in international development cooperation, strategic partnerships, public policy advisory and subnational diplomacy.

As Chief Technical Adviser to the Plateau State Governor, he currently coordinates high-level engagements aimed at mobilising strategic partnerships, attracting development investments, expanding diaspora participation and advancing institutional collaborations aligned with Plateau State’s economic transformation agenda.

He has also played key advisory and coordination roles in facilitating engagements between the Plateau State Government and several bilateral, multilateral and international development institutions across Europe, Africa and other parts of the world.

His contributions have reportedly strengthened cooperation frameworks in governance reform, innovation ecosystems, youth development, enterprise support, digital economy initiatives, agriculture, education and sustainable development.

Before his appointment in Plateau State Government House, Wilson had accumulated more than a decade of professional experience supporting democratic governance and institutional strengthening programmes, including assignments under European Union-backed governance initiatives in Nigeria and Kenya.

His experience spans programme management, development communications, stakeholder engagement, policy coordination, civic participation and international cooperation frameworks.

According to the statement, participation in the French programme is expected to provide opportunities for deeper engagement within European diplomatic, policy and investment circles, while also opening new windows for strategic partnerships in innovation, agriculture, education, technology, culture and enterprise development.

The programme is also expected to enhance Plateau State’s international visibility and investment positioning, while contributing to broader conversations around subnational diplomacy, international cooperation and inclusive economic transformation.

Observers say the development further reinforces the Plateau State Government’s ongoing drive to expand credible international partnerships capable of unlocking economic growth, institutional development, youth empowerment and sustainable prosperity for the state.