Rotary Club’s Impactful Humanitarian, Community – Based Services Impress Asagba of Asaba

Rotary Club has been commended for standing tall as a service organization with lots of accomplishments to show.

His Royal Majesty, Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN, OON, the 14th Asagba of Asaba, gave the commendation when the District Governor, Rotary International, District 9140, Rotarian Anthony Woghiren, led a delegation of Rotary Club executives and members on a courtesy visit to his palace.

Asagba Prof Azinge noted that the organization had carved a niche for itself in the fight against Poliomyelitis, having successfully eliminated the scourge in all but two countries worldwide, and also making waves in community – based service.

He expressed appreciation to Rotary International for its sustained effort to ensure that Nigeria remained Polio free, stressing that the organization’s exploits were not only commendable, but also worthy of admiration and emulation.

The foremost traditional ruler noted with satisfaction the significant contributions of Rotary Club to the well-being and development of Asaba, which he said was in tandem with his belief that the needs of the people should not be left for government alone.

Asagba Prof Azinge said: “I listened with keen interest, the very impressive engagements that Rotary Club has undertaken in Asaba. A littarny of them. As you were chronicling I was noting with satisfaction, and one can only hope that there can be numerous other bodies like yours that can also do similar exploits and help to address the issues that confront us as a people.

“We will always want to identify with you. On our own part, we’ve also opted to chart a path based on our understanding of our people, the needs of the land, fortified in the knowledge that to offer true leadership, even from the throne, certainly will involve trying to see that the welfare of our people will not be taken for granted.

“I have noted what you’ve been able to do in the Health Centres at Ugbomanta, Umuaji and Jarret. But we’ve moved a step further. We’ve tried to ensure that the Health Centres do not remain desolate and moribund and have gone out of our way to attract medical doctors from the NYSC camp, directly to the palace, to be deployed to the Health Centres and their allowances to be paid from this palace.

“We’ve already secured accommodation for them, paid for months and they are all quartered. At the last count I think they should have about four medical doctors, three pharmacists, and a number of medical laboratory scientists. We are also doing the bit we can from here because we appreciate the situation better.

“The same line we are also trying to combat drug addiction to the best of our ability, not only frontally by visiting all the nooks and crannies where drugs are trafficked in Asaba, we also ensured that we arrested the addicts and the barons and handed them over for prosecution. We’ve also been able to acquire a place for rehabilitation. Presently we are trying to refurbish and furnish the place so that all the addicts can be taken there.

“In terms of schools, we are donating chairs and books. We are giving bursary to all Asaba students in tertiary institutions, and in a couple of weeks time we will be awarding scholarships to so many of them. So we are also trying to emulate what you are doing to the best of our ability. The important thing is for us to know that Asaba presently is working very well and we are not unmindful of the fact that our major preoccupation is to ensure that there is peace in this land, and that the security and safety of life and property is dear to our heart. You cannot do the much you are doing if the land is not peaceful enough for you.

“As you know, there is no issue of kidnapping, banditry or anything of that nature here. We are the ones trying to ensure we keep that at bay. We also believe that government cannot do everything for us. There must be certain things we should do for ourselves as a community. So we are not resting on our oars. We are not relenting in trying to do the much we can”.

He assured the delegation of support from the throne and told the District Governor to always keep in touch with the palace whenever there was need for that.

Earlier, while briefing the Asagba, the District Governor, Rotary International, District 9140, Rotarian Anthony Woghiren, said he was on Club visit to Asaba and felt the need to lead his Club executives and members to the palace to pay their respect to the Monarch and receive royal blessings.

Rotarian Woghiren said Rotary Club comprised of professional men and women volunteers committed to carrying out projects wherever they found themselves.

He highlighted some of the projects the Club had executed in Asaba to include, equipping of the Umuonaje Ugbomanta and Jarret Health Centres with state-of-the-art facilities and solar-powered systems, renovation of toilet facilities at the ‘A’ Division Police Station, construction of a block of toilets at Isioma Onyeobi Secondary School, provision of a water borehole and a generator at Oneh Primary School, donation of medical equipment to Okwe General Hospital and FMC, Asaba, carrying out of community – based services in the Asaba metropolis, amongst others.

The DG said a lot more projects were lined up for Asaba and solicited the support of the Asagba in actualizing the Club’s objectives.