A son of the soil and Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Orientation, Rtn. Williams Eghebi was on Saturday, September 8, 2018 installed the 15th President of Rotary Club International, Boji-Boji Urban, District 9141.
The epoch-making occasion held at Pace Hotel, Agbor, was attended by fellow Rotarian and high profile personalities who came from far and near to felicitate with the newly installed leader as well as spicing up the occasion with recognition and awards to well deserved individuals who have contributed to the society. The event also included induction of new members.
Speaking after the induction ceremony, Rtn. Francis Nduka Ekih, the outgoing President, who also doubles as the Head of Department, Environment, Ika L.G.A said, “I am very highly elated and I thank God for the success of today’s installation. For the past one year, I have been piloting the affairs of the Rotary Club and I am today handing over to my successor, Rtn. Williams Eghebi. I wish him all the best as he carries on his duty. We will give him our full support and I also pray that his antecedents supersede mine. I implore him to carry everyone along because Rotary Club is all about services to humanity. We wish him success.”
In his remarks, Rtn Williams Eghebi appreciated his fellow Rotarian for finding him worthy in giving him the opportunity to serve in that capacity, promising to run a transparent leadership that will ensure the inclusion of all members of the body. He appreciated the guests for their presence which according to him has contributed immensely in making the day’s event a successful one.
In his words, “About fifteen years ago, this club was chartered and since the founding of the humanitarian service organization, a lot has been achieved, not without the support from members of the society who saw the need to partner with us.
“As Rotarians, we believe that individual efforts focus on individual needs but combined efforts to serve humanity which on this record that we have contributed immensely in the area of education, sanitation and public health, peace and security.
“In addition to the contributions of the Rotary, our efforts in the eradication of polio remain our selling point but thanks to Bill Gates and wife, Melinda, who through their Foundation, partnered with Rotary in the provision of Polio vaccines upon which Nigeria was tagged polio epidemic free in 2014 until it was discovered again in the Internally Displaced Person’s Camp in Borno State in August 2016 which has now forced us to the trenches again.
Speaking of his vision around the Boji-Boji metropolis, he said, “It is our intentions to raise bars in terms of service delivery. With the approval of club leaders, we will embark on beautification of Agbor metropolis and provision of public toilet facilities at the local Computer/Phone Village at the College of Education Junction in order to meet the sanity demands of the over a thousand daily customers who come to fix their phones and other accessories accompanied with solar-powered water borehole.
With the dual carriage road and ongoing streetlights on Old Lagos/Asaba Road, planting of ornamental trees on both sides of the road will be a good icing. I am confident that with the current Council Boss as a dedicated Rotarian, we can achieve results in record time.”
He appealed to fellow Rotarians and other people with humanitarian disposition in the society to key into the projects and give their support saying that the goals are money- intensive hence, will not be achieved with mere man-power.
Speaking further, he congratulated the awardees who were decorated by the club, saying that the award was due to their verifiable contributions to humanity.
Speaking on membership to the Club, he said that Rotary Club is not an elitist organization. Anybody with verifiable source of livelihood can become admitted so long as such applicant is a person of integrity, he said.
As part of the event, awards were presented to some notable dignitaries whom the Club found worthy of. These includes; Mr. Peter Idion, Barr. Eugene Uzum, Mr. Jonathan Ihienkonye Morgan; popularly known as Joe Morgan, Aghaiji Chinedu Monday, Chief Dennis Araro. While newly inducted members are; Joel Kebokwu, Davison Christopher and Ekosi Thomas.
The ceremony was attended by Dr. J. A. Ukadike, Provost, College of Education, Agbor; Hon Moses Iduh, Delta North Chairman of PDP; Chief Jude Ogbekile, Dr. E. U. Tibi, Barr Reuben Mgbodi, Chief Hetty Ajuebon-Egbarin, Chief Liz Ugbetuo, amongst others.