Rotary International District 9127 has pledged a ₦150 million fund for the 2025-2026 Rotary year, targeting crucial areas such as polio eradication, maternal and child health, and economic empowerment.
District Governor Dame Princess Joy Nky Okoro announced on Tuesday during her inaugural press conference at the Rotary Centre in Abuja.
Under the theme “Unite for Good,” Okoro shared an ambitious action plan to create measurable impacts in Rotary’s Seven Areas of Focus. She called for collaborative efforts from Rotarians, partners, and the media to achieve transformative changes.
“Today marks the beginning of a new Rotary year where we unite for good, not just in words but through bold actions.
Rotary’s legacy is built on results, and we commit ₦150 million to advance our mission this year,” she said.
Okoro says the three main priorities for the upcoming year are to finish the fight against polio, save mothers and children through improved healthcare, and empower communities economically.
“These priorities align with Rotary’s Seven Areas of Focus: Peace and Conflict Resolution, Disease Prevention and Treatment, Water and Sanitation, Maternal and Child Health, Basic Education and Literacy, Economic and Community Development, and Environmental Sustainability,” she said.
Emphasising the urgency of eliminating polio, Okoro remarked, “We are 99.9 per cent of the way there, but the last mile demands our urgency.”
While discussing the action plan, she indicated that the organisation would initiate district-wide advocacy for government and donor funding, partner with local leaders in high-risk areas, and hold a Polio Pledge Rally with global health partners.
“Every Rotarian must advocate, donate, and demand political commitment until we certify the world as polio-free.
“No mother should die giving life. No child’s future should be cut short by preventable causes,” she said.
In her remarks, Okoro outlined additional projects for 2025-2026, including expanding prenatal care, training healthcare workers, and deploying mobile clinics to remote areas. The goal is to reduce maternal and under-5 mortality rates by 20 per cent in the district.
While speaking with journalists, Rotarian Mike Ukachi Nwanoshiri, the outgoing District Governor for 2024-2025, shared insights regarding the new district’s formation.
“The district came into existence after a reorganisation from District 9125 on July 1, 2024. Today marks exactly 360 days since I took office.
“I have allocated funds for this one-year service term, and I cannot exceed that. Today, I officially hand over to the newly elected district governor, who will continue the work for the next 360 days,” he said.
Nwanoshiri further highlighted the successes of his term, saying, “We crossed borders and boundaries during my tenure. While I cannot provide a specific estimate, I can confidently say that we successfully sustained the Rotary Foundation, raising over ₦400 million for it.”
He also mentioned upcoming projects, “We have another ₦20 million dedicated to the Erasable Sanitary Pad Giao Chai initiative, and we expect more projects funded with ₦80 million from the District Designated Fund (DDF).”
Nwanoshiri noted challenges, saying, “We are currently calculating funds for our Rotary building. Given the nature of our country, there have been challenges in reaching agreements with the government.”
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