By Mimi Chiadikaobi
The Rotary Club of Awka Metropolis, (The Dependables),Rotary International (RI),Nigeria, District 9142, will hold the installation of its 16th President and induction of new members on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
The President of Rotary Club of Awka Metropolis, Rtn. Kingsley Mmotoh, disclosed this to our reporter shortly after the club’s pre-installation and membership managemrnt during the club's weekly fellowship held at Best Western Meloch Hotel, Awka,Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra on Monday,August 10.
Mmotoh said the fellowship featured a pre- installation fellowship and a lecture focused on Rotary membership growth and management and what it means to for a peson to become a Rotarian.
“Today, we are having a pre- installation fellowship. We have a guest speaker,Rtn Rev Chukwukaodinaka Oragu, of Rc Amawbia Sports city,who lectured the members on Rotary membership development, what it means to be a member of Rotary International club.
Mmotoh disclosed that “In the last 16 years, the journey has not been easy, but in the last three years, things have been going smoothly,” he said.
According to him, the club invited some of its past presidents and former members who had left the club, noting that they honoured the invitation.
He described the weekly fellowships as an avenue for reunion and the re-familiarisation of members, saying the initiative was part of efforts to strengthen the club and reconnect with its past members.
“One of our greatest achievements is reuniting with those who left the club for one reason or another.
“We are also trying to revive the club and introduce innovative programmes that will attract people and make them feel comfortable in the club,” he added.
Speaking on the benefits of joining Rotary, Mmotoh said one of the greatest gains was the opportunity to build meaningful friendships and networks while helping others to grow and contribute positively to the society.
He appealed to members of the public to consider joining the Rotary Club, stressing that the benefits of membership outweighed the financial obligations involved.
“There is more to gain than to lose. Whatever you pay as dues, you will gain back more than twice,” he added.
Mmotoh also urged members of the public not to be discouraged by concerns about financial commitments, noting that whatever a member contributes to sustaning the visions, and goals of Rotary International would be returned in other valuable and meaningful ways.
The Star President commended members of the club for their support, commitment and dedication towards the success of the fellowship.
He specifically appreciated Mrs. Joy Mbachi for her commitment to the club and her efforts to reach out to other people and encourage their involvement in building up on club to sustain its dependable status.
He also commended the efforts of all members on different shades their strength carries them especially Immediate past presidents (IPP) Rtn Michael Bishop Chinweuba on his commitment on the on-going preparation for a successful program.
Also speaking, Rtn. Onyekachi Michael Iruka of Rotary Club of Awka Central, who serves as Assistant Governor (AG) for Awka Metropolis and Awka Urban, said the club was marking Rotary’s membership month as the month of August in Rotary International calendar is membership growth,management and retention.
"It is expected that as August month is marked with activities aimed at strengthening club’s membership and wining and encouraging the intending Rotarians to see the body as a quality organisation where various classificatios are welcomed and encouraged to use it's classifications to positively project the aim of Rotary International which was created on February 23,1905 by Paul P Harris and friends.
According to him, the weekly meeting featured a seminar on strategies for growing membership and management of members in the club’s.
“Awka Metropolis Rotary Club has been doing well. It will install it's 16th President of the club and also inducts some new members on Saunday , August 16.2026
“The fellowship is a weekly affairs and a special one designed to partly gather the members for quality fellowship in preparation for the installation of its 16th President and induction of new members and also promote Rotary to its expected guests.
" The fellowship offered sensisitation to reach out to prospective members—people who share the same vision and are willing to make positive contributions to society in their own little ways,” he said.
Iruka said the club, which has existed for 16 years, had continued to perform strongly and had earned recognition as the third-best club in District 9142.
He explained that District 9142 comprises seven states, including five states in the South-East, as well as Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.
“It is not easy to be third out of more than 190 clubs in seven states.
“We are looking forward to raising the bar higher,” he said.
He commended members for their commitment to the growth and development of the club, urging them not to relent in their efforts.
According to him, Rotarians must be prepared to work and remain committed to the ideals of the organisation.
“To be a Rotarian is to work and be committed,” he said.
According to him,he was inspired by the level of commitment displayed by members and was confident that, with their continued support, the club would achieve even greater heights.
He further identified support and service to humanity as some of the core values of Rotary.
“One thing in Rotary is support and helping others,” he said.
In her remarks, Mrs. Joy Mbachi, the club’s chair and coordinate Awka Axis of the Women in Rotary, said that WIR Anambra is planning on embarking on literacy/ education campaigns across various communities in the state as directed by WIR state representative.
According to her, members had visited some schools to create awareness about literacy and provide assistance to schools in need.
She lamented that most of the schools visited lacked conducive learning environments and disclosed that the Women in Rotary (WIR) members in all clubs in the state was planning interventions to improve the situation.
“We want to give to those schools that we found without chairs ,tables a good study environment.
We want to provide them with whiteboards, exercise books,and many other items” she said.
Mbachi appealed to members and other well-meaning individuals to support the initiative financially and materially to enable the WIR in the state to achieve its objectives.
She said the intervention was part of the club’s broader commitment to promoting literacy, improving learning conditions and making a positive difference in the lives of children within the communities.
She said that Women In Rotary (WIR )District Representative in Anambra, Rtn Ifeyinwa Okolie-Aboh, member Rc Onitsha Royale is pushing hard to see that the three zones in Anambra, Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi carries out projects that will influence lives of the people positively.
Intending Rotarian, Mr Uchenna Vincent Okoye, who hosted the pre- installation fellowship
said that he is excited joining Rotary International Club, he described all other association he belongs as noble forums but strongly said that Rotary International is execptionionsl.
He notes that Rotary is unique in it's standing because it's creates friendship that embraces all classes of people with diverse classification into one family which is not attributes of other social club.
PAG George Onyeanu, a older member said that Rotary is built on purely service to humanity ranging from Child and Maternal health, Disease prevention and Treatment,Basic Education and Literacy ,environment, water and sanitation economic and community development , Peace and Conflict prevention and resolutions.
PAG Chika Ekwueme advised the club to make plans to contribute meaningfully in Rotary Foundation in order to continue to promote ideas of Rotary International.
The pre- installation fellowship attracted past presidents Henry Onuora, 2012/ 2013, Nnajiofor Nwako 2013/2014.(End)