The Rotary Club of Victoria Island East, under the leadership of Rotarian Oluwaseun Jaiyesimi, and the Rotary Club of Minimah Estate, led by Rotarian Adewole Farinu, alongside 18 partner clubs, have collaborated on major humanitarian projects at Military Primary School, TA Lagbaja Cantonment, Maryland, Lagos.
Held on Thursday, October 22, 2026, under the theme “CREATE LASTING IMPACT,” the initiative reaffirmed the clubs’ commitment to Rotary’s guiding principle of Service Above Self. The projects covered five key areas: clean water and sanitation, disease prevention, basic education and literacy, community development, and environmental sustainability, with the provision of a borehole water system, first aid box, digital library, inverter with solar panels, and waste-bin containers.
Brigadier General Ayokunle Olufemi Owolabi, Commander of the 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army, led the military delegation and commissioned the digital library to promote effective education and literacy, while District Governor Layi Abidoye commissioned the borehole water system to support access to potable water, hygiene and disease prevention. Both leaders also participated in the environmental initiatives, joining Rotarian Adewole Farinu, Rotarian Oluwaseun Jaiyesimi and the presidents of all 20 participating clubs in planting trees to promote a greener environment and support climate-change mitigation. Brigadier General Owolabi received an Award of Special Appreciation and described Brigadier General Anthony Onibasa (Rtd.), CP of the Rotary Club of Minimah Estate, as a selfless leader.
He also expressed his intention to join Rotary in the nearest future. Awards of Special Appreciation were presented to District Governor Abidoye and Brigadier General Owolabi, while the school management, led by Headmistress Mrs. Adelaja, presented Awards of Appreciation to District Governor Abidoye and Rotarian Farinu in gratitude for the clubs’ intervention.
District Governor Layi Abidoye commended the clubs’ collaboration and encouraged continued partnerships to achieve greater community impact, reinforcing his message with the words attributed to Pope Francis: “Rivers don’t drink their own water, and lions don’t eat their own children.” Distinguished attendees included District Governor-Elect Rotarian Uyi Abike Sowobi, military personnel, school management and participating Rotarians. The project demonstrated the value of collective action in improving educational facilities, supporting public health, providing essential infrastructure and encouraging environmental responsibility.
Through the leadership and participation of the Rotary Clubs of Victoria Island East and Minimah Estate, together with their 18 partner clubs, the initiative translated Rotary’s commitment to service into practical interventions designed to build a healthier, greener and better-supported school community.
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