By: Gbenga Babalola
It was a glamorous celebration as the outgoing 2024-2025 “Heart Beat of Humanity” Executives of the Inner Wheel Club International, District 913 of Adó Èkìtì Roses ushered in the Executives for 2025/2026 “Step Up and Lead by Example”, for the smooth running of the Club. The occasion had in attendance distinguished Guests, notable Stakeholders and Members of the Club, important personalities, as well as Students from the various Tertiary Institutions in Èkìtì State.
The Three-In-One auspicious August Event which took place at the Fabian Hotel Hall, Adó-Èkìtì, the Èkìtì State capital, marked a significant milestone for the Club, as members used the occasion to recount on their achievements.
The programme lived up to its billing as it featured 2 Sensitization Talks, Handing Over Ceremony and Empowerment for Orphans, Less Privileged and no fewer than 53 Students from various Tertiary Institutions that cut across Èkìtì State, with special consideration for their indigent status.
In her Handing Over Address, the outgoing President, Inner Wheel Member Temitope Sola-Shittu expressed gratitude to God for the grace of a successful tenure. Highlighting her administration’s achievements, she noted that with God’s help, she was able to increase the Club’s Membership from 12 to 23 and achieved formidable heights through consistency, hard work and resilience, by embarking on various Empowerment Programmes and initiatives to better the life of Indigent Citizens, which includes the Widows, Aged and Orphans, by extending hands of love to them.
During her Tenure, the noble Club was able to Introduce Online Meetings to enhance participation and decision making, Production of Ado Roses Club branded Roll-Up Banner, Procurement and the use of a Hand Bell to regulate meetings proceedings, Design and Production of Official Letterheads for correspondence, Creation of an Official Club Email Address, Opening of a new Bank Account for transparency and accountability, Design and Production of 2 Types of Customized T-Shirts, Two types of Mufflers, an Ankara Outfit and a Bowler Hat for members. The Club also achieved Empowerment for Two Widows with #100,000 each, Cash Support of #50,000 for another Widow for Petty Trading, Provision of Four Bags of Charcoal to support an Indigent Woman, Donation of a Laptop to a Visually Impaired Student to aid learning, Payment of #100,000 each to cater for the School Fees of Two Orphanage JSS Students plus Provision of School Materials for the 2024/2025 Academic Session.
Donation of Wheelchair and Sewing Machine to a Widow, Gift to a Member in Celebration of Inner Wheel International Elders Day, Provision of Christmas Hamper to a UBA Official, as well as Organizing the Club’s First-ever Christmas Party, Donation of Baby Items and Food to Mothers and Newborns on January 1st in Three Maternity Centres to mark Inner Wheel Founder’s Day, Easter Outreach tagged “Shopping with God”, where 40 Under-privileged individuals received Food, Clothing, Utensils and other essentials, Cash and Materials support to Sick Members, Gifts to Three Members and celebration of Landmark Birthdays, a monthly initiative, among others.
She encouraged the beneficiaries to embrace opportunities with mature minds and be ready to be set apart for excellence, adding that Inner Wheel Club’s goal is to uplift humanity through Empowerment Programmes.
IWM Sola-Shitu further revealed that during her tenure as President, she employed the SWOT Framework in achieving set goals for the Club, and seized the occasion to commend his Co-Executives for their unwavering support and sportsmanship spirit, imploring God for more blessings on all members of the Club.
Earlier in her Opening Speech, the Immediate Past District 913 Chairman of the Club, Inner Wheel Member Abimbola Sholanke said Inner Wheel International is the only Female Club in about 104 Countries worldwide, with a Permanent Seat in the United Nations, and is made up of women with like minds, whose objective is to foster true friendship, encourage innovations of personal service and foster international understanding and reach out to the Less Privileged.
”I want to encourage people with the mindset of not giving until they have much that they don’t need to be a Millionaire before touching Lives. As a drop of water in an ocean makes a lot of difference, a Loaf of Bread can actually make a lot of difference in someone’s life as well, and a worn-out blanket can provide warmth for a homeless person. So, I encourage women who have the heart of giving, to reach out to the needy”, she noted.
Also in her remark, a Past District 913 Chairman of the Club, Inner Wheel Member Ayo Olu-lawal who commended the outgoing Executives for the life touching programmes they successfully executed, said the gesture will be duly appreciated. She duly charged the beneficiaries to be better versions of themselves, by extending Love to others.
In her Acceptance Speech, the new President of Adó Èkiti Roses, Inner Wheel Member Margaret Fagboyo, attributed the import of the new position to her commitment and called for the immense support of members, with an assurance that she will leverage on the good foundation built by the outgoing President, while promising to uphold the tenets of the Club.
”As I take the Baton as the newly elected 8th President, I have rolled out my plan for 2025/2026 and my work plan says it all, about empowerment, Celebration of International Days, Health, Education, Women Empowerment, reaching out to Vulnerable people and giving voice to the voiceless, as well as promoting True Friendship and Humanitarian Service.
”Part of my project is to acquire a new Land for Inner Wheel Club Ado Èkìtì Roses, bringing on board the essence of Social Media, the establishment of administrative and governance structure by building on the existing foundation, to have an inclusive and stronger society where all and sundry can thrive”.
Also, the Immediate Past District 913 Chairman, IWM Abimbola Solanke who corroborated the new President, said the Objectives of the Club focuses on true friendship, promoting the ideals of personal services, and fostering international understanding, added that the Club has mutual respect for cultures, with focus on reaching out to the Less Privileged and preaching Love and Friendship in the Community.
She applauded the Outgoing President for her humanitarian intervention to women empowerment initiatives whose selfless dedication, resilience and innovative drives had shaped lives of many. “I Congratulate her because it was during her tenure that the Inner Wheel Club District 913 Chairman emerged from Ado Èkìtì.”
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet and Special Services in Èkìtì State, Dr. Oyeyemi Kayode-Ojo implored members of the Club not to relent in impacting the lives of all and sundry, equally charged the audience to imbibe the culture of sheer Charity, depicted by the Inner Wheel Club International.
Delivering a Lecture on the title “Stress Management: Mental Health and Work”; Dr. Olumide Obe who noted that importance of Optimal mental health can not be underestimated, said human activities in managing stress effectively is crucial not just for the weak being but for strong hearted persons too.
While reiterating on how to maintain sound and positive mental health, the medical personnel explained that Resilience is the ability to thrive in the face of adversity, urging all not to manage stress alone but transform it into strength.
In a Talk titled “Fan Your Potential To Flame”, a Motivational Speaker, Mrs. Funmilayo Adeyemo who said potential is a gift of capability and ability that is not yet fully developed or realized, encouraged all and sundry to embrace positivity and opportunity to navigate challenges of life with ease, urging her audience to discover their strength and allow same to overshadow their weaknesses.
In separate interviews with some of the Student Beneficiaries, including Oluwagbenga Oluwaseun (FUOYE), Oluwadamilola Oluwatuyi (BOUESTI), Boluwatito (EKSU), Fadele Oyinjolayemi (FedPolyAdo), and Agbaje Victoria (College of Nursing), they could not hide their joy while extending gratitude to the members of the Ado Roses Inner Wheel Club, for the sincere Motherly Love and support for their welfare.
The Three-In-One auspicious August Event climaxed with the Club Anthem, Playlet by Beneficiary Institutions, Induction of new Members, Recognition and Presentation of Gifts by the Outgoing Executive to some Supportive Individuals, the Erelu Angela Adebayo Children’s Home, Ìyìn-Èkìtì, Transit Home Girls, 2 Indigent Women, as well as Care Packages for 50 Female Students Beneficiaries from Five Tertiary Institutions, including the Èkìtì State University, EKSU, Federal University Oye-Èkiti, FUOYE, College of Nursing and Federal Polytechnic Adó-Èkìtì, and the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikéré-Èkìtì, BOUESTI.
