By Muyiwa Akintunde
Among over 140 clubs in Rotary International District 9110, which covers Lagos and Ogun States, Rotary Club of Ikeja Alausa Central and its 2022-23 President, Rotarian Adebukunola Soile-Balogun are the rave-of-the-moment! Founded only two years ago, the club has been on the lips of Rotarians and other stakeholders since last Friday – for good reasons.
At District 9110’s ‘Celebration of an Iconic Year of Many Firsts’ to mark the end of the 2022-23 Rotary year last Friday, Rotary Club of Ikeja Alausa Central came first in two categories – Best in Club Administration, and Best in Youth Service.
Rotarian Soile-Balogun (right) receiving a plaque from Rotary International District 9110 2022-23 Governor, Rotarian Omotunde Lawson, with Rotarian Muyiwa Akintunde celebrating with the club
And then the icing on the cake: the Overall Club Award! Rotary Club of Ikeja Alausa Central finished third in this category out of over 140 clubs in Rotary International District 9110. But see the two clubs that were ahead of the two-year-old club: Rotary Club of Lagos (No. 1) and Rotary Club of Gbagada (No. 2).
Rotary Club of Lagos is appropriately tagged the “grandfather’s” club having been founded 62 years ago and was beaten by only four weeks by Rotary Club of Kano to being the first Rotary club in Nigeria. Rotary Club of Gbagada, founded 39 years ago, is another high achieving clu
Rotarian Soile-Balogun being celebrated by (from left) the club’s New Club Adviser, Assistant Governor Valentine Shomoye; club’s AG Mufutau Adelotan; Rotarian Muyiwa Akintunde; and another Rotarian leader
Everyone acknowledged that our No. 3 as a toddler is as good as No. 1. Rotary Club of Ikeja Alausa Central played in the big league among established and illustrious clubs. With the spirit of David, Rotary Club of Ikeja Alausa Central stood its ground against the Goliaths in the District and came out victorious.
All that would not have been possible without the club’s energetic, resourceful, determined (and more) President for the 2022-23 year, Rotarian Soile-Balogun. She drove herself so hard despite her busy classification. At every point she stepped out to pick a prize, District Governor (2022-23), Rotarian Omotunde Lawson had amazing words to say about her.
