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THE HISTORY OF
DISTRICT 9110, Nigeria
A Part of Our History of
Rotary in Africa
Prepared by the district and not verified by Rotary Global History
DISTRICT 9110 NIGERIA
Rotary International started with the first Rotary Club formed in
Chicago, USA by four friends, invited by the founder of Rotary Paul
Percy Harris. The club held its first meeting on 23rd February 1905.
The ideas and ideals of Rotary were well accepted and this
encouraged its spread from USA to other parts of the world. This
spread got to Nigeria formally in 1961 when the first Rotary club in
Nigeria was chartered in
Kano on the 28th April 1961 in the 56th
year of Rotary.
Before then the first Rotary club in Africa had been established in
1921, 40 years ahead of Nigeria while the first Rotary club in West
Africa was also established in Dakar, Senegal in 1939 about 22 years
before Nigeria. Nigerian indeed was the 32nd nation to receive
Rotary in Africa! The relevance of this emphasis on the late
establishment of Rotary in Nigerian will be taken up later but
suffice to say meanwhile that the later spread and growth in Nigeria
more than adequately compensated for this late start.
After the Rotary club in Kano, Rotary club of Lagos was chartered on
30th May 1961 and the Rotary club of Ibadan on 24th November 1961.
By 1973, the number of clubs in Nigeria were large enough for
grouping with other clubs outside Nigeria to form the new Rotary
International District 210 with Rotarian Francois Amorin of the
Rotary club of Cotonou – Benin Republic as the first District
Governor.
In 1972/73, Nigeria produced her first District Governor for
District 210 when Rotarian Anofi Guobadia of the Rotary club of
Ikeja came into office. The District was later renamed 910. During
the period 1973 to 1981, Rotarians from about 14 countries in West
Africa were grouped into one District. The effect of Rotary was felt
by the society through its various laudable projects and activities.
Nigeria produced her second District Governor in 1980/81 when
Rotarian John Majiyagbe of the Rotary club of Kano took charge of
the much bigger District. This encouraged RI to consider
redistricting with the creation of the Rotary District 911
comprising all clubs throughout Nigeria in 1982 – 83 Rotary year.
The first District Governor of the newly created All Nigerian
District 911 was Rotarian Past District Governor Julius
Adelusi-Adeluyi. In that year (1982 – 83) PDG Juli as he is fondly
called crises-crossed Nigeria several times doing some 26000
kilometers by air, by land and over water to spread the message of
Rotary with the support of well chosen, motivated, committed and
coordinated team of District officers.
PDG Juli and his team created a new dawn for Rotary in Nigeria with
establishment of 31 new clubs, thus having a growth of about 100% in
one Rotary year! A feat that won the commendation and salutation of
Rotary International as the best ever from any District in the
Rotary world at that time. This growth encouraged the redistricting
of the District 911 to form two Districts for Nigeria. PDG Bob
Ogbuagu took over form PDG Juli and sustained the tempo with great
charms and promotions, typical of a PR Guru and veteran that he is.
With the redistricting exercise, PDG Babs became the third District
Governor of District 911 comprising six states and the FCT i.e.
Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Kwara, Sokoto and FCT.
The club in the remaining part of Nigeria went with District 912.
Thus it was less cumbersome to manage and consolidate the growth
already achieved which PDG Babs Ajayi did effectively and sustained
as well. With sustained growth, PDG Bayo Adetunji became District
Governor in 1985/86 as the 4th Governor of the District before
another redistricting exercise took place and like PDG Bob Ogbuagu
he had to belong to the newly created District after serving as
Governor of District 911.
By the first July 1986, Nigeria has started the Rotary year with 4
Districts namely District 911, 912, 913 and 914. The new District
911 now comprises Lagos and Ogun States with a high concentration of
Rotary clubs in Lagos and Ogun States! The first District Governor
of the new District was His Royal Majesty, Past District Governor
Oba Adedapo Tejuosho, of the Rotary club of Ikeja. He again uniquely
re-enacted the charismatic drive of PDG Juli’s year and brought the
new District to a very solid footing. He took office in 1986 with 51
clubs and 2,200 Rotarians.
In one year he formed 45 new clubs making a total of 96 Rotary clubs
with three thousand three hundred and thirty Rotarians, an increase
of one thousand one hundred and ten Rotarians in one year! The
limited space in this brochure would not permit us to do a year by
year commentary for now but the truth is that all our PDGs have all
made their impacts. A collection of Veteran Rotarians would review
the years someday and keep the records and visions alive so that
their labors would not be in vain.
This process has indeed commenced. Going through the book "PAUL
HARRIS AND HIS SUCCESSORS: PROFILE IN LEADERSHIP" gives one an
insight to the vision, strength and focus of each Past RI President
and a clear basis for reviewing their contributions to the growth of
Rotary International. Every District may need to follow that step as
we are currently doing for District 9110.
However, in view of the socio-economic challenges in our society
there is urgency need to review our strategic planning and
development program. We must employ dynamic technological approach
to proffer solutions to the problems of qualitative growth.
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