Tinubu Calls For Stronger Partnership With Rotary

President Bola Tinubu has called for stronger collaboration between the Federal Government and Rotary International in advancing healthcare, education, youth empowerment and community development across Nigeria.

According to reports, the President made the appeal on Sunday during a presidential inaugural dinner in Abuja held to celebrate the inauguration of Rotarian Olayinka Hakeem Babalola as President of Rotary International. Babalola becomes only the second African to lead the global humanitarian organisation in its 121-year history.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Tinubu described Babalola’s emergence as a landmark achievement for both Nigeria and the African continent, saying it reflects the country’s capacity to produce globally respected leaders with integrity and competence.

The President noted that Babalola’s appointment goes beyond personal accomplishment, describing it as a national milestone that highlights Nigeria’s increasing influence on the international stage.

Tinubu further stated that Rotary International’s core principles of service, integrity, fellowship, diversity and leadership align closely with the objectives of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in areas such as quality education, improved healthcare, youth development, job creation and efficient public service delivery.

He stressed that meaningful national transformation cannot be achieved by government alone, urging Rotary International under Babalola’s leadership to deepen its partnership with Nigeria in primary healthcare, maternal and child health, literacy, youth skills development and community economic empowerment.

The President expressed confidence that a stronger alliance between the government and Rotary would deliver practical and sustainable development, emphasizing that combining Rotary’s longstanding culture of community service with the Federal Government’s policy direction would produce measurable and lasting benefits for Nigerians.

Tinubu also commended Rotary International for its pivotal contribution to the global campaign against polio, describing the organisation’s support as instrumental in Nigeria’s successful eradication of the wild poliovirus. He hailed the campaign as one of the finest examples of international cooperation in public health.

Speaking at the event, Rotary International President Olayinka Hakeem Babalola reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to improving public health through initiatives beyond the EndPolioNow campaign. He highlighted programmes such as the “Together for Healthy Families” initiative, which focuses on reducing maternal deaths, malaria and diarrhoeal diseases.

Babalola said Rotary’s true success is measured by the positive impact it creates in people’s lives, noting that Nigerian Rotarians have played a significant role in the decades-long effort to eliminate polio through sustained advocacy, volunteerism and collaboration with governments and international partners.

He disclosed that the Together for Healthy Families programme is strengthening healthcare systems, training health workers and empowering communities in Abuja, Nasarawa, Gombe and Ekiti states to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.

The Rotary president also announced the launch of the Healthy Communities Challenge, an initiative targeting malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoeal diseases through pilot programmes in Kebbi and Akwa Ibom states. He explained that the project is focused on disease prevention, health education and community participation to improve public health nationwide.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who also attended the event, described Babalola’s emergence as a defining moment for Africa, noting that he is the first African to occupy the position since the late Jonathan Majiyagbe served as Rotary International President 22 years ago.

Obasanjo urged the new Rotary leader to uphold Rotary’s Four-Way Test of truth, fairness, goodwill and mutual benefit in his administration. He also encouraged him to advocate for increased funding for development projects across Africa and other developing regions, invest in future leaders and promote ethical leadership to strengthen public confidence in institutions.