By Mercy Akuba
BENIN CITY — Twenty-three years after it last hosted the event, Edo State is once again playing host to the Rotary International District Conference, with the Chief Executive Officer/Secretary General of Rotary International, John Hewko highlighting key achievements and calling for sustained efforts toward global polio eradication.
Speaking during a media parley with journalists in Benin City,
Hewko urged Nigerian mothers with children aged 0–5 years to ensure their wards are vaccinated against polio, stressing that the vaccines are safe, free, and essential in preventing lifelong deformities.
“The vaccines are safe, free, and effective. It takes just two drops to protect a child from polio. We must continue to spread awareness because the virus does not recognize borders,” he said.
He noted that Rotary has remained at the forefront of the global fight against polio since the launch of its eradication initiative in 1985.
According to him, the organisation has raised about $3 billion to support the campaign, working in collaboration with governments, including the Nigerian Ministry of Health, and other global partners.
He added that Rotary has recorded significant successes across regions such as Asia and South Korea amongst others.
Reflecting on Rotary’s global footprint, Hewko disclosed that the organisation currently has about 46,000 clubs and 1.2 million members worldwide, with approximately 75 percent of its membership outside the United States. Nigeria, he said, has about 16,000 Rotarians, making it the largest Rotary base in Africa.
He described the hosting of the conference in Edo as strategic, noting that District 9141 remains one of the largest and most vibrant in the country.
He revealed that the Benin District currently has about 605 Rotarians, including 210 new members inducted this year, while Rivers State boasts over 2,500 members.
Highlighting Rotary’s broader impact, Hewko explained that beyond professional networking, the organisation is deeply involved in humanitarian services such as healthcare delivery, disease prevention, and youth development.
“Rotary is a unique platform that combines professional networking with community service. It was essentially the first form of global networking long before platforms like LinkedIn existed,” he said.
He added that Rotary’s annual humanitarian interventions are valued at over $2.4 billion, with an additional $2 billion recently committed to tackling maternal and child mortality.
Hewko acknowledged challenges such as misinformation about vaccines and low youth participation in skill acquisition programmes but emphasized that Rotary continues to intensify awareness campaigns through media collaboration.
Recounting his previous visit to Nigeria in 1981 after graduating from Oxford University, Hewko shared memories of a nine-month road trip from London to Cape Town, during which he passed through northern Nigeria.
He expressed delight at returning to experience southern Nigeria, particularly Benin City.
Reaffirming Rotary’s long-term vision, he stressed the importance of continuity through structured transition plans, noting that meaningful change requires sustained effort.
“We are on the verge of eradicating polio globally, but until that goal is fully achieved, we must remain committed,” he said.
On his part, the District Governor, Rotarian Anthony Osaretein said the decision to host this year’s conference in Benin City was driven by the need to further entrench Rotary International’s presence in Edo State.
According to him, although he had the option of hosting the conference and installation ceremony in Rivers State, he chose Edo in recognition of the fact that the state had not hosted the event in 23 years.
“It was a tough decision convincing stakeholders, but it reflects our commitment to expanding Rotary’s impact in Edo,” he said.
According to him, Rotary activities under his leadership have recorded significant contributions in disease prevention, healthcare delivery, community service, youth skill acquisition, and professional development.
Speaking on polio eradication, he emphasized Rotary’s frontline role in advocacy:
“We have been at the forefront of advocating for a polio-free Nigeria. We are creating awareness at different levels to assure mothers that the vaccines are safe and do not harm children.”
He added that his personal understanding of polio deepened after joining Rotary:
“Before I joined Rotary, I thought deformities in children were due to parental carelessness. But I later understood that polio is a disease that requires vaccination. Since then, I have taken it as a personal project to fight polio.”
He noted that October 24 is observed globally as World Polio Day, underscoring Rotary’s commitment to eradication efforts.
Rotarian Osaretein also emphasized the importance of media partnership in achieving Rotary’s goals and appreciated the presence of the Rotary International leadership in Edo State.
He commended Monday Okpebholo for providing an enabling environment for hosting the conference.
He explained that the conference serves as a platform to showcase Rotary’s achievements across four states in areas including healthcare, youth empowerment, peacebuilding, and environmental sustainability.
Osaretein further revealed that District 9141 will produce the next national president of Rotary, Olayinka Amin Babalola, effective July 1, a development he described as a significant milestone for the district.
He also noted that the district has produced a trustee currently serving on Rotary’s governing body, responsible for managing the organisation’s financial arm.
Reaffirming Rotary’s guiding principle of “Service Above Self,”
Anthony stressed the organisation’s commitment to building peace, supporting communities, and sustaining impactful projects through well-structured leadership transition programmes.
Present at the event were high ranking leaders in Rotary International including the immediate past governor….. And the Chairman Central Planning committee , district convener, Mudiaga Iyomi .