Empowerment

Olayinka Babalola shares Rotary vision on Arise News

Published

3 months ago

July 20, 2026

Olayinka Babalola, Rotary International President, spoke candidly with Dr. Reuben Abati on Arise News about his historic role, Rotary growth in Africa, and creating lasting impact through service

Olayinka Akin Babalola, the 2026-27 president of Rotary International and the second Nigerian to hold the position, appeared yesterday on Arise News programme ThisDay Live anchored by Dr. Reuben Abati in Nigeria, where he reflected warmly on his personal Rotary journey and set out his vision for the global humanitarian organisation.

Also read: Layi Abidoye Installed As Rotary District 9112 Governor

Babalola formally took office on 1 July 2026 following ceremonies in Orlando, Florida. In the studio conversation, he recalled how his Rotary story began in the early 1980s at the Federal University of Technology in Bauchi.

Approached by the university’s public relations officer, Andy Eme, a member of the Rotary Club of Bauchi, he agreed to help establish a Rotaract club and served as its charter president.

He later joined the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi in Port Harcourt during his national youth service and rose through the ranks, including as district governor for the former District 9140 covering multiple states in Nigeria’s southeast and south-south.

He follows in the footsteps of Jonathan Majiyagbe, the first African and first Nigerian to lead Rotary International in 2003-04. Addressing young listeners, Babalola offered simple yet powerful encouragement.

“I tell them just stay. Stay with Rotary and everything else is possible,” he said.

Africa’s Rotary membership has increased from around 19,000 to about 48,000 in recent years, yet significant gaps remain.

Babalola called on leaders across the continent to establish new clubs in underserved communities, arguing that any area without a Rotary presence misses vital opportunities for local development.

He also advocated splitting Africa into two zones within Rotary’s global structure of 34 zones to secure more regular representation on the organisation’s board.

His presidential theme, “Create Lasting Impact,” anchored much of the discussion.

Babalola drew a clear distinction between temporary change and enduring results, pointing to polio eradication as the clearest illustration.

While Nigeria is certified wild poliovirus-free, he stressed the importance of sustained routine immunisation until the disease is eliminated worldwide, particularly in the remaining endemic countries of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“When no child gets crippled anymore, when every child can walk. That is lasting impact,” he emphasised.

A trained engineer with decades of experience in the oil and gas sector, including senior roles at Shell, Babalola urged Rotarians to look beyond immediate project outcomes.

He noted that while digging a borehole provides welcome relief, true impact requires considering longer-term benefits such as community peace and sustainability.

This approach aligns with Rotary’s evolving 121-year mission of uniting people for meaningful, lasting change across the globe, in communities, and within individuals themselves.

The interview, broadcast just days after Babalola’s formal installation and the memorable flag-raising ceremony in the United States where he led the Nigerian national anthem in traditional green-and-white attire, offered viewers an intimate glimpse of a leader deeply rooted in service.

His remarks blended personal history with forward-looking ambition, reinforcing Rotary’s role in fostering ethical leadership and community transformation.

Also read: Layi Abidoye Installed As Rotary District 9112 Governor

As the second African to guide the organisation’s 1.2 million members, Babalola brings both continuity with past achievements and a fresh determination to expand Rotary’s positive influence, particularly on his home continent.

State development

Bauchi Urges Girls to Pursue Education and Skilled Jobs

Published

2 days ago

October 26, 2026

Peculiar Adirika

Bauchi girls’ education campaign urges students to complete school, learn vocational skills and pursue careers traditionally dominated by men

Girls in Bauchi State have been encouraged to complete their education, acquire vocational skills and pursue careers traditionally dominated by men as part of efforts to promote financial independence and reduce gender inequality.

Also read: Rest of World to Shut Down as Search for New Home Continues

The call was made on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at an event in Bauchi to mark the International Day of the Girl Child.

The event was organised under the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership Project in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria, Azurfa Women and Youth Development Initiative, and Fahimta Women and Youth Development Initiative.

Speaking at the event, Mustapha Idris, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at Fahimta Women and Youth Development Initiative, said the annual observance aimed to raise awareness of girls’ rights and promote their well-being.

He said the programme was designed to encourage girls to explore a wider range of professions and address gender disparities in the workplace.

Idris urged students to use their school holidays to learn practical skills, including shoemaking and soap production, which could help them earn an income and improve their economic prospects.

“Girls should not feel ashamed of learning a trade or engaging in legitimate businesses. These skills can provide them with sources of income, promote financial independence and reduce their reliance on others,” he said.

Monica Tanko, Executive Director of Azurfa Women and Youth Development Initiative, urged the girls to remain committed to their education and avoid leaving school before completing their studies.

She also encouraged them to develop practical skills alongside their formal education, saying the combination could help prepare them for future challenges and employment opportunities.

Tanko stressed the importance of self-reliance while encouraging the students to maintain their personal dignity as they pursued their ambitions.

Timothy Ibrahim, an engineer with more than 20 years of professional experience, encouraged the students to consider engineering and other professions in which women have traditionally been underrepresented.

He urged them not to allow gender stereotypes to discourage them from pursuing their interests, adding that girls could excel when they had access to opportunities, encouragement and support.

His message reinforced the event’s call for girls to look beyond occupations traditionally associated with women and explore careers across technical and professional fields.

The event was attended by female students from several schools in Bauchi metropolis, including Rafin Zurfi, Bakaro, Unguwar Doya, Gudun Sayawa and the Federal Government Girls’ College.

The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually on October 11 to promote girls’ rights and draw attention to challenges affecting their development.

The Bauchi event used the occasion to highlight the importance of education, vocational training and access to a wider range of career opportunities.

The organisers’ message was that empowering girls requires more than keeping them in school.

Also read: Rest of World to Shut Down as Search for New Home Continues

Access to practical skills, supportive role models and opportunities to enter different professions can also help young women build greater economic independence and participate more fully in their communities.