In Rotary Clubs, of course, the mantle of leadership must rotate. After making innumerable services to humanity, Rotarian Oluwa Enitan Sophie, has emerged as the new president of the Rotary Club of New Lagos, Ikeja, of Rotary District 9112, Nigeria, for the 2024-2025 tenure.

The handover fellowship held on Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at Happies Recreation Hall, Ladoke Akintola, GRA Ikeja, Lagos. The mantle of leadership was honourably passed to Rotarian Oluwa Enitan Sophie, from Rotarian Omolara Akinbami Ojo PHF, the Hope President of the Rotary Club for the 2023–2024 Rotary Year. 

The ceremony brought together brilliant minds from various Rotary Clubs throughout Lagos State.  Engineer Wale Owa, the President of the Rotary Club of Mende Midtown; Rotarian Idris Seyi Ashamu, the immediate past president of the Rotary Club of Ikorodu Metropolitan; Rtn. GOC Bada, Chairman, Tree Planting Commitee, Rotary District 9112; Hon. Leonard Ezekiel, Publisher of Icon Blaze magazine, and Barrister Kehinde Nubi, were among the distinguished guests who graced the occasion.

‘My vision’

In accepting the mantle of leadership, Rotarian Oluwa (PHF), who is the Founder of the Natinee Empowerment for Sustainable Impact Initiative (NESII), expressed gratitude to God Almighty throughout her speech, stating that God has indeed been the only source who has supported her since the beginning of time.

She also acknowledged the Club’s general membership, for their unselfish connection and continued support.

She called the Handover Fellowship to order at 8:15p.m., and then announced her prepared projects to the friends of the Family of Rotary and Club members. She emphasized that she is eager to share her ideas and ideals with marginalized groups such as the underprivileged, vulnerable group of persons including; Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) prison inmates and ex-convicts, and that her other plan is to use her Non-Governmental Organization platform (NESII) to reach out to these individuals.

Rotarian Oluwa Enitan Sophie, the founder and Chief Responsibility Officer of  NESI, pledged to make the most of her humanitarian platform and her club’s in order to make sure that these marginalized members of society receive the care they need. She pointed out that when we, as lawyers, take good care of them, we are also creating a society that is extremely secure for everyone.

She said: “From the avenues of service in Rotary, with my seven areas of focus, which creates a clear-cut solution to the realization and actualization of projects identified to achieve this year’s theme, a few United Nation Days of obligations have been identified and streamlined into each area of focus.

“To amplify our impact and tell our stories, we shall spice up our Club activities by carrying out impactful virtual campaigns and physical events to commemorate these days.

“Working with inmates and ex-convicts in my capacity as a lawyer has made me aware of how stigmatized they are once their sentences are over. They have no intention of beginning a fresh, deserving life. They must therefore commit crimes once more in order to survive.

“Our crime rate is rising because of this. I’ll work at it and get help for it,” she said.

Strategy

“To execute these projects and programs, the Club is in dire need of sponsors and technical partners to achieve all plans and even do more. No doubt, programs such as this require a lot of logistics and finance too. Thus, we have already identified and are speaking with organizations to provide expertise.

“We are counting on the unflinching support of the Board of Directors as well as cooperation of the Club members, to share fun, fellowship and programs that will ensure no member is left behind. To ensure all areas of focus are significantly touched and the effect of our programs are impactful as well as far reaching in rewriting our history.

“The Club is applying a transformational approach on this journey and would continue to devote adequate time in planning and execution of the proposed projects and programs.

While some projects may be subjected to change or positive adjustments, It is our belief strategic relationships will be beneficial to our community and help us accomplish all.”

According to Sophie, there are about 100 Rotary Clubs located throughout Lagos State that can effectively and efficiently care for the general public. This means that Rotary has a complete coverage of the Lagos community. She further declared that she is interested in assembling a group of people to meet the needs of the weaker members of society, with the goal of enhancing their lives by empowering them and teaching them new skills that would enable them to work for both themselves and others.

For the execution of all the numerous and impactful projects that the New Lagos Rotary Club has planned for the 2024–2025 Rotary Year, Rtn. Oluwa Enitan Sophie demonstrated a great deal of trust, faith in God and support from her Club members.

She is special — Nubi

During an interview following the meeting, renowned educationist, entrepreneur, and lawyer, Kehinde Adebola Nubi Esq. stated that he is attending a Rotary Club event for the first time.

Having known Rotarian Oluwa as her Parents Teachers Association (PTA) Chairman during her high school years at Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) Sagamu, he described her as a daughter. He acknowledged that missing her swearing-in and inauguration would have caused him great pain.

Nubi  added that this is the result of his lengthy association with Rotarian Enitan, who has up until this point been a leader among her peers.

Kehinde Nubi Esq. fervently conveyed his well-wishes and asked for divine intervention to enable her to accomplish all of her goals for the Club and the grace to record significant initiatives that will benefit humanity.

Below are more images from the ceremony: