Not A Typical Club At The UNIVERSITY
My definite highlight of November 2019 is spending time with 3 gentlemen: Rotary International Vice President, Yinka Babalola; District Governor, Joe Otin and Chair, Rotaract Committee at Rotary International, Ronald Kawaddawa on a silent Friday evening at the restaurant and bar of Paradise Lodge in Arbaminch – a city about 500 km south of Addis Ababa. To have such quality company is rare.
Yinka, Joe and Ronald are established professionals in oil & gas; digital advertising and human resources based in Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda respectively. They are active Rotarians whose repute precedes them. I pinched myself severally to ensure that I wasn’t in a dream. I had the privilege to draw insights and inspirational from men whose individual professional and leadership experience exceed my whole life.
When I was introduced to Rotaract in September 2014, I thought it was just another club in the university. A typical club at the university has a bare minimum subscription fee; offers biscuits after its weekly meetings and has a fun day or two every month. Over time, I realized Rotaract is not a typical club at the university – it is a global network offering numerous opportunities around skills and networks development.
At first, I only heard club members say so. I must say, they weren’t convincing as much. All the same, being a timid first-year student, I had found a club I could engage in: I could gain a friend or two; enjoy a fun-day or a karaoke evening and, for the gentleman in me, chat a lady or two. But what about the new skills and professional networks?
In Sept. 2019, I celebrated five years in Rotaract. In the five years, I have transformed self immensely. True to the Rotaract promise; I’m a more articulate public speaker, have developed remarkable organisational and interpersonal skills. Over the same period, I have nurtured acquaintances and friends half-way across Africa who serve as my mentors, peers and mentees. Most importantly, Rotaract has widened my perspective on more issues than one. With that said, my 5-year experience is insignificant when compared to the 10-year in Rotaract and 26-year in Rotary of Yinka, 20-year of Joe in Rotary and 6- year in Rotaract and 14-year in Rotary of Ronald.
Over the five or so hours that evening, each shared personal and business transformation experiences giving credit to Rotaract and Rotary. From Yinka’s excellence at Shell; Joe’s extensive network across the world to Ronald’s ability to scale the business ranks and record major achievements at half the average age of others. Seeing through the eyes of Yinka, Joe and Ronald that night and later in the week, clarified to me that truly Rotaract creates lasting change in one self. With the transformation I have witnessed within the 5-years I have been around, I sincerely pray that the Lord grants me a long and health life ’cause much more is possible.
To all Christians, Merry X-Mas and to all of us, a Most Prosperous 2020. In 2020, may we all pursue Rotaract and Rotary membership more objectively.
