By Godwin Chukwumaechi, Port Harcourt
The Rotary Club Aluu New Dawn, Rivers State at the weekend unveiled its New Service Project for the 2024/2025 year during which it also presented Prof. Uchenna Ufoaroh, the immediate past president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, the prestigious Professional Service Award.
The event also saw the official handover of the mantle of leadership of the club to Catechist, Mmadubueze Jefferson as the 4th Rotarian President, Aluu New Dawn, the investiture of members of the 2024/2025 Board of Directors and the induction of some worthy men and wormen into the Rotary family.
The club is a member of the Rotary International, District 9141, Nigeria, chartered in the 2020/2021 Rotary year and is in the business of making lives bearable for the less privileged in the society through selfless services offered by Rotarians worldwide through their various vocations in the seven (7) areas of focus.
In his remarks, the new president announced the year’s theme as the, ‘The Magic of Rotary,’ sayiing “it is expected to bring out the real magic of Rotary in every man. Rotary brings together people of like minds like you, leaders from all works of life who want to use their distinct expertise to do good”.
He pledged: “The President and members of the Rotary Club of Aluu New Dawn will do all that is humanly possible to carry out projects in the seven (7) Rotary areas of focus which include:
“Maternal and Child Health, Basic Education and Literacy, Economic and Community Development Disease Prevention and Treatment, Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Environmental Support as follows: Joining and assisting in any nationwide immunization exercise. Distribution of mosquito treated nets to pregnant and nursing mothers”.
Jeferson added that the year would also see the Rotary New Dawn Aluu, donate 5,000 or more Rotary customized exercise books, organize career counseling and development for secondary school students, organize inter-school quiz/debate for secondary schools, giving out of micro credit to ten (10) indigent widows and carry out an awareness campaign and deliver lectures on Prostrate cancer.
In her valedictory speech, the outgoing President, Dr. Eucharia C. Nwachukwu thanked God and appreciated the Rotary Club of Aluu New Dawn for counting her worthy of leading the club and providing a platform for them to serve humanity as dedicated Rotarians.
She noted that the year was not an easy one for the club but expressed gladness that “despite the obvious economic challenges that bedeviled Nigeria as a country, our club was able to dislingish herself in service to humanity as we created Hope through our various projects in 2023-2024 Rotary Year.
“I wish to announce that our projects and humanitarian services for the year 2023-2024 has been recognized and applauded by the Rotary International as evidencad by the Rotary International Citation Award we received at the end of our service year”.
She congratulated the Board of Directors and members of the Rotary Club of Aluu New Dawn for achieving this great feat for the first time and encouraged them to work harder for more recognitions in this Margical year”.
Speaking on his award, Professor Uchenna Ufoaroh dedicated the award to God and the people of his town, Ifitedunu in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, where he is also currently serving as the president of the town union.
He said the award would inspire him to continue to contribute his quota in lifting mankind through humanitarian services.
He promised to suport Rotary club in its humanitarian “activities to help the less privileged which has been part of my pursuit in life. “I promise to partner with Rotory club Aluu in the drive to make the society a better place for humanity”.
Prof Ufoaroh expressed appreciation to the outgone President and the newly inducted one for finding him worthy of the award.
