AN ACCEPTANCE SPEECH PRESENTED BY RTN CHRIS EJIME MONYE, ON THE OCCASION OF INSTALLATION AS PRESIDENT, ROTARY CLUB OF AGBOR THIS DAY 24TH FEBRUARY, 2021.
Inspirational DG, AG PAG’S Past Presidents
President Elect, Paul Harris Fellows,
Rotaractors, Fellow Rotarians, Distinguished Awardees and Guests, Ladies & Gentlemen.
I am delighted and privileged today to be installed as the 36th President of Rotary Club of Agbor, District 9141, Nigeria. The first Rotary Club in the world was formed in Chicago, Illinois, USA on the 23rd of February, 1905. Yesterday marked 116 years of Rotary existence. The founder, Paul Harris, a young lawyer gathered together in a spirit of friendship and understanding, a group of men each of whom was engaged in different form to service to the public. At first, members of the new club met in rotation at their various offices, and this gave birth to the name ROTARY.
The general objectives of the organization in every country are the same i.e. the development, fellowship and understanding among the business and professional leaders is the promotion of community advancement and betterment, high ethical standards in business and professional practices, and the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace. Rotary Clubs worldwide have one basic ideal – the ideal of SERVICE.The five (5) Rotary Core Values are Leadership Fellowship Service Diversity Integrity All these are embedded in the objects of Rotary and the 4 way test which are our guiding principles. The covid-19 crisis forced all of us to adapt. Every great challenge is an opportunity for renewal and growth. Rotary is not just a club that you join; it is an invitation to endless opportunities. We believe in creating opportunities for others and for ourselves. We believe that our acts of service, large and small guarantee opportunities for people who need help, and that Rotary opens opportunities for us to live a richer, more meaningful life, with friends around the world based on our core values. Governments and institutions are gaining a greater appreciation for our work. Covid-19 got people stuck at home, eager for greater connections and hungry to help their communities – these are the values we have promoted since the beginning. ROTARY IS GOOD
Our club, Rotary Club of Agbor has impacted many lives, communities and institutions since it was established about 36 years ago. Some months ago, I organized my Rotary Story which afforded our founding members opportunity to present their Rotary journey, experiences to the admiration of members. This was covered by media houses. The club has undergone its ups and downs, but has remained more resilient, focused and stronger.
Based on need assessment, we have provided solar water borehole to Aliren in Alisimie community, Oki and many other communities within Ika Constituency, provision of skill acquisition centre for barbing, sewing, dry cleaning etc at Agbor Correctional Facility (Prisons). We have also empowered inmates that completed their prison term, we also fed countless families during the Covid-19 lock down. The list is just endless.
Covid-19 has brought untold hardship to many homes, Rotarians are of no exemption, but it has not killed our resolve and commitment to rise above difficulty in serving those in most NEED.
Some months ago, some patients with kidney problem cried to us for help. Most of them spent up to an average of N30, 000.00 weekly for dialysis at Warri Central Hospital the only state owned centre at that level. We were touch by this pathetic situation and as Rotarians we knew we have to act fast to ameliorate the situation. We did need assessment and swung into action.
We resolved to provide Renal Dialysis Centre at Central Hospital, Agbor. This is a mega capital intensive project embarked only by state or federal government but government cannot do it alone, we are to compliment their efforts. Time is not on our side to save more lives, we approached Rotary International and our members painstakingly contributed towards the project. Today, the Rotary Renal Centre with the state-of-the-art facility is 100% completed and ready for commissioning soon. That is Rotary, people 0f action, putting service above self.
Our next project is to purchase AMBULANCE(s) for free ambulance services within Ika Federal Constituency. Any emergency, disaster, just put a call across and trust, we will be there. It is not for conveying corpse but to save lives. We trust the capacities of our awardees who were carefully selected because of their heart of GOLD and their consistent humanitarian records. We need N4million for an ambulance. The recent gas fire disaster was an eye opener to the dire need of a free ambulance service within the metropolis because there was none anywhere. The victims were carried to the hospital in trucks and pick-ups like logs of wood; so dehumanizing!
We plead with our able and esteemed awardees, members and friends of Rotary, guest to contribute towards this life saving and noble project. Today we have a date with history.
I appreciate your presence, God bless you all.
RTN Chris Ejime Monye
