It was jubilation galore as the Rotary Club of Owerri Central installs Rtn Modestus Okeke as the 18th President of the club.
The 2018/2019 installation ceremony, which took place at the Roselife Hotel, opposite Villa Garden Hotel, New Owerri, last weekend, was attended by people from all walks of life, including the government officials, technocrats and captains of industries.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Prince Chinedum Jovita Okeahialam, the Regional Manager, Local Corporate South-South and South-East, Eco Bank Nigeria Plc, commended the Rotary Club for being in the fore-front of making things better in society.
He mentioned some of the good things they do as polio eradication, empowerment of the less-privileged ones in the various Communities, free medical treatments and provision of portable water, and enjoined them to maintain the standard, even as he wished the new President well.
The outgoing President of the club, Rtn Manuphil Onye, in his valedictory address, said that they did their best, as they impacted positively on the people by giving free medical treatments, and execution of life-touching projects like provision of water and sanitation exercise.
Rtn Onye, who also revealed that the number of the members of the club increased from 36 to 40 under his administration, advised the newly installed President, Rtn Modestus Okeke, to continue from where he stopped and promised to assist the new President to enable him succeed.
The highlight of the occasion was the installation and decoration of Rtn Modestus Okeke as the new President of the club by the outgoing President, Rtn Manuphil Onye.
In his inaugural speech, the newly installed President, Rtn Okeke, said “I am proud and indeed, delighted to be a Rotarian. I am most humbled and honoured to be elected to serve as the Chief servant of my club for this 2018/2019 Rotary year. With the help and support of the Board members and fellow Club members, I will do my best to meet the challenge and surpass our expectations”. Our club has been built on a strong leadership foundation and I am fortunate to have the array of personalities as members who are fully committed to the Rotary ideal of “service above self”.
He mentioned some of the major projects they are looking forward to executing within the 2018/2019 Rotary year as, provision of solar powered, water project with reticulation-9million; provision of water and sanitation in 3 public Secondary schools-N2.4million; Breast cancer/cervical Awareness- N0.5m; Donation of Blood by members and free medical service in 5 communities N2.5million.
Others are literacy and cancer Awareness campaign in Secondary Schools-N0.5million, donation of reading Grail to blind Students N0.5million; provision of Micro-credit to indigent women-N1million; skill acquisition programme -Nl.5million; and training on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism for members of the community-N0.5million.
However, some personalities who distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour, were given awards by the club. They include Hon. Dr. Mrs. Angela Nwakwem, the immediate past Medical Director, Federal medical Centre, Owerri and Honourable Commissioner for Health, Imo State, who was celebrated at the occasion by those she helped to grow helped to grow.
Others are Dr. Kachi Steve Nwoga, Hon. Gideon Meffor Onyebuwa, Surv. Casmir Anele, Surveyor Geberal of Imo State, Mrs Pat-Ify Emeribe and High Chief Chukwuma Anwurum.
Some of the new inductees are; Rtn Prince Chinedum Jovita Okeahialam, Surveyor Casmir Anele, Obioha Tonna, Ekenna Promise, Oparaocha Anthony, Alagbaso Francis Odinaka and Anosike Ifeoma.
Speaking to newsmen during the occasion, Rtn Chief Emekwe Ikechi, the past President, Rotary Club, Owerri Central, who expressed the hope that the newly installed president, Rtn Modestus Okeke, would deliver, said that during his time, they tried to sustain all the ideals of Rotary club form its sustainability, saying that he works for the eradication of poverty by empowering the poorest of the poor in the communities.
He equally revealed that they paid hospital bills for the poor, provided mobile Aids for physically challenged people, fought polio and provision of portable water.
The Chairman of the Installation Planning Committee, Rtn Okee Okere, while fielding question from newsmen shortly after the event expressed joy that the occasion was very successful, saying “We started very well and ended very well”.
Describing the event as a yearly affair, he noted that at the end of every Rotary year, the president hands the batton to another member, and advised the newly installed president to be focused and determined in order to move the club forward.
In his, the Director, Ceva Business Centre Ltd, Everistus Agoha, who described Rtn Modestus Okeke as a friend, said that he was sure that Rtn Okeke would take the club to another level, and prayed God to grant him the strength, wisdom and resources to conduct his roles successfully.
