The Rotary Club of Umudike Central, District 9142 says it will erect four Billboards to sensitize students and communities around her on the
negative consequences of cultism, drug abuse and the need to say ‘NO’ to child abuse.
A report by the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime in Nigeria indicates that 14.4 percent (14.3 million) of people aged between 15 and 64 years abuse drugs; six (6) out of ten (10) Nigerian children are abused or maltreated before they get to the age of 18, according to Paediatric Association of Nigeria, PAN; while it has become worrisome that many of the young people usually armed with cudgels, machetes, axes and dangerous tools now take solace in cult gang instead of devoting their energy to positive enterprise.
Presenting an inaugural address shortly after her installation in Umuahia, Abia State, the 20th President of Rotary Club of Umudike Central, Rotarian Seline Ilochi, also said that under her leadership, RC Umudike Central will support basic education and literacy through career talks, counseling as well as donation of instructional materials to schools.
President Ilochi also disclosed that RC Umudike Central will provide capacity development for entrepreneurs, traders, artisans and career-minded persons to support economic and community development through
skill acquisition and other empowerment schemes.
Other projects by the club during the 2023-2024 Rotary year would also be geared towards creating hope to her immediate communities. Other projects include provision of big Iron waste baskets to aid refuse disposal within the environs of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, MOUAU and National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, (NRCRI) , provision of antenatal packs for expectant mothers and prenatal packs for immunization. According to the newly installed President, the Club will also refurbish toilets facilities at Umuariga Primary School, Ikwuano L.G.A, donate wheel chairs to five physically challenged persons in addition to the provision of some medical supplies including newborn kits and consumables to Amawom, Okwe and Umudike Primary Healthcare Centres.
Earlier in her valedictory speech, the outgoing President, Rotarian Chinwe Vivian Anyaegbu, stated that the Club under her leadership during the 2022 -2023 Rotary year, carried out impactful projects in the seven areas of focus of Rotary International as well as increased the club’s membership strength with the induction of eight new a members. To support the Rotary Foundation, a total sum of one thousand, one hundred and fifty US dollars($1,150) was donated by members, including 300 US Dollars ($300) to support Polio Fund of the RotaryFoundation among other outstanding achievements.
According to Past President Anyaegbu, “today, I am pleased to report that God indeed saw us through amidst all the challenges of the year 2022, when University staff were on strike without salaries for 8 months and these category of persons made up 95 percent of the Club members. I am excited to handover to a passionate Rotarian and friend, Rotarian Seline Uzoamaka Ilochi, to oversee the management of the Club as the Create Hope President and i have no doubt that she will take our dear Club to greater heights”.
The event featured conferment of awards to some notable Nigerians, decoration of Paul Harris Fellow recognition, induction of new members, inauguration of Board of Directors among other side activities.
