Rotary International President-elect, District Governor Unveil Agenda

The incoming Rotary International president, Olayinka Hakeem Babalola and District 9127 governor-elect, Sikiru Adetona Owonikoko, have unveiled an ambitious agenda for the 2026-2027 Rotary year.

The central theme, “Create Lasting Impact”, resonated through the District Learning Seminars in Abuja organised by District 9127, marking a pivotal moment as Babalola prepares to become the first Nigerian to head the global service organisation in July.

Connecting via video link, Babalola, who congratulated the newly appointed district governors, urged them to embrace Rotary’s international fellowship and its transformative power, beginning with personal change.

“Another quality we share is that Rotary has changed us. It has shaped who we are and made us better people. That is where change truly begins. Not only for the people we serve, but also for ourselves,” he said.

He illustrated his call for enduring impact over temporary outcomes with poignant anecdotes, including the story of Tia, a Rotarian from North Carolina, USA, who found solace in her club after losing her husband.

“Rotary has a way of showing love, quietly, lovingly, when we need it most. It reminds you that even when you are the one who is used to giving, it is okay to receive,” Babalola quoted Tia as saying.

He also cited tangible projects like early childhood education initiatives in Naisna, South Africa, and Nigeria’s ‘Together for Healthy Families’ programme, which has reduced maternal and infant mortality.

“Change is only the beginning. Impact is what endures. My dear friends, family of Rotary, that is why the presidential message for 2026-2027 is Create Lasting Impact,” he said.

Echoing this vision, Owonikoko presented a detailed roadmap for District 9127, encompassing 16 states and Abuja, focusing on public image, membership, discipline, and technology.

“History will not remember our titles. It will remember our impact. You are the face of Rotary. Not the wheel. Not the banner. Not the slogan. You,” he said.

He announced a major technological leap, a three-year subscription to Artificial Intelligence-powered platforms and a new District Events Management Application.

“This is not an experiment. It is a commitment to efficiency, transparency, and excellence. Technology will no longer be optional in District 9127. It will be institutionalised,” he said.

He also emphasised a culture of discipline, describing it as a respect for standards that separates intention from excellence.

Rotary Foundation Trustee, Ijoma Pearl Okoro, while speaking with journalists after the seminar, described attendees as the original stakeholders for executing the new vision.

“A Nigerian, an African, is going to be president come 1st July. This is a good environment to plan how we are going to create lasting change in the world,” he said.

The current district governor, Dame Joy Ukoro, linked her ongoing theme, ‘Unite for Good,’ with the incoming agenda.

“Uniting ourselves as Rotarians and extending that unity into our adopted communities, we are now moving on to creating a lasting legacy.

“First and foremost, I will tell you that Rotary is not an elitist club. It’s a club where you get involved if you have the mind to serve,” he said.

The seminar, the first major strategic assembly following the International Assembly in Orlando, Florida, concluded with a palpable sense of historic purpose, setting the stage for a year focused on deep, enduring transformation.