The newly installed Governor of Rotary International District 9127, Joy Okoro has pledged N150 million to drive impact across Rotary’s key focus areas, with special emphasis on eradicating polio, improving maternal and child health, and promoting economic empowerment.
Speaking during the official handover ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, Okoro declared that her administration’s mission is to serve with compassion, advocate relentlessly, and deliver tangible change, staying true to Rotary’s legacy of service and results.
She outlined Rotary’s seven global areas of focus, which include peace and conflict prevention, disease prevention and treatment, water, sanitation and hygiene, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, economic and community development, and environmental protection.
However, she noted that District 9127 will prioritize three critical issues in the 2025–2026 Rotary year: completing the global eradication of polio, improving the health and survival of mothers and children, and fostering economic empowerment in underserved communities.
On polio eradication, Okoro emphasized that while the world is 99.9 percent of the way to ending the disease, the final mile requires urgent attention.
She said the district would mobilize local leaders in high-risk areas to support vaccination campaigns, while also advocating for increased government and donor funding.
She urged every Rotarian to become an advocate by sharing Rotary’s polio story, donating to the foundation, and pushing for political commitment to end polio once and for all.
In maternal and child health, Okoro unveiled a comprehensive plan to expand prenatal care by partnering with clinics to offer screenings, nutrition kits, and maternal education, particularly in underserved areas.
The project will also launch a neonatal survival initiative that involves training health workers and equipping hospitals with essential supplies. Rotary-funded mobile clinics will be deployed to reach remote communities.
Okoro described this new Rotary year as one of bold action, stating that “Rotary’s legacy is built on results. From nearly eradicating polio to empowering communities worldwide, we prove that collective action transforms lives.”
Also speaking at the event, the outgoing Rotary District Governor, Mr. Mike Ukachi, expressed gratitude to God and to Rotary members for a successful year of service.
He described the district as vibrant and stable, and he lauded members for their contributions to impactful projects and donations to the Rotary Foundation.
“With a high sense of fulfilment, I am pleased to hand over a district that is standing on a very solid foundation and already set for the destined flight to glory,” Ukachi said.
