Rotarian Ebere Makes History, Becomes First Female President of Rotary Club of Owerri Cosmopolitan, …Hits the Ground Running

ThankGod Emeh.

The Rotary Club of Owerri Cosmopolitan, on 10th July 2022 witnessed a tremendous change in its leadership as Rotarian Ebere Vivien Chinyere was installed as the first female and second President of the world-recognized club in the State.

This is coming after the one-year tenure of the former President of the club, Rotarian Chimezie Ezinwanne Ogbonna which started after the chartering of the club on 23rd April 2021 elapsed.

The event which attracted Rotarians(Rtn.) Rotractors, partners, stakeholders, and guests across the State and beyond featured the Inauguration of the Board of Directors, presentation of services projects, recognitions and presentation of Awards as well as induction of new members where the Five (5) Avenue of Services of Rotary, Object of Rotary, the Rotary Code of conduct, Rotarian Code of Conduct as well as Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office were intimated and administered to them.

The Inauguration of the Board of Directors

Delivering his valedictory speech to the house, Rtn. Ogbonna said the task before the president is enormous hence when he was saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that the club which was the newest birth in Imo Zone maintains stability as a reputable Rotary club, the task came with a lot of anxiety and high expectations but thanked God for seeing him and his team through while urging the new President of the club, Rtn. Ebere to uphold the legacies of the club and ensure it remains at an enviable height in Imo zone.

“Many Rotary Leaders in the zone queried my capacity, but I am proud to state that our club worked as a team and ended up with great achievements which was summed up with great recognitions from both Rotary International and the District. In our first year of existence, we earned the Rotary Presidential Citation at both the first and second quarters of the year. We touched all the seven areas of focus in our vision as we served to change lives”

“Our club embarked on a mega Million Naira Project which was geared towards the construction of a modern 2-unit Toilet facility at Bishop Lasbrey Girls Secondary School Irete, Imo State. I am pleased to announce that the project has been completed and commissioned by the District Governor, Dr. Okey Okonkwo. Our club sponsored the chartering of a new club – Rotary Club of Owerri Sunrise”

“My Plea is that our incoming President will uphold the legacies of our dear club and ensure it remains the Igirigi of Imo Zone. Together we achieved more”, Rotarian Ogbonna concluded.

Earlier in his welcome remarks at the ceremony, the Installation Chairman, Rtn. Obinna Sixtus(SON) expressed appreciation to the entire members of the committee, leadership and Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Owerri Cosmopolitan for their special efforts in making the occasion a success while calling for all-round support for the new President, Rtn. Ebere Vivien Chinyere to take the club to the “Next Level”

Centre: The Installation Chairman, Rtn. Obinna Sixtus(SON)

The new President of the Rotary Club of Owerri Cosmopolitan, Rtn. Ebere Vivien Chinyere in her address expressed appreciation for the honour of selecting her to lead the club for the 2022/2023 year with the theme “Imagine Rotary” adding that the service of the year will be guided accordingly towards identified projects of “Raising $10,000 dollars for the Rotary Foundation and support its effort on Polio Eradication”, holding “Career Development seminar for a selected girls Secondary school for #550,000”, conducting “Free Eye camp and Routine Test for selected Women and aged persons estimated at #900,000”, “Equipping a Library for an orphanage home to assist the children for #700,000” as well as “Providing water to a selected Girls School billed at #1,500,000” in line with the vision and mission of the service organization.

Rotarian Ebere who noted how she developed interest in joining the Rotary club and how she has fared since her induction, assured the club members of total commitment to the cause of Rotary as she had “always had the urge to get involved in a service club so that she could give back to society”

“First of all, I would like to thank you my fellow Rotarians for selecting me to lead our club as President for the 2022/2023 Rotary year. …I am indeed honored to be given the opportunity to serve in this capacity and you have my sincere assurance that I will be dedicated to the cause of Rotary in this role, the same way I have demonstrated my commitment over the past few years since I was first inducted into the club”

“How did I get here? I can recall the genesis of this journey just like yesterday. From the social interaction in the estate where most members live as we had a common set of friends and socialized occasionally. However during one of our conversations, out of the blue PAG Nneka Ewenike and Rtn. Oluchi John Isiodu said, you know something, I think you would make a very good Rotarian and I would like to invite you to one of our fellowship meetings, which of course they explained to me, are held every Tuesday as I always had the urge to get involved in a service club so that I could give back to society. I was formally inducted into the Rotary Club of Owerri Cosmopolitan as a member and the Charter Secretary in June of 2021 and the rest, of course, is history, Rtn Ebere recalled.

The dogged President of the Rotary Club of Owerri Cosmopolitan urged all and sundry, especially her leadership team and fellow Rotarians to find ways to always contribute their quota to society in order to make it a better place.

“Fellow Rotarians and Guests, I would like to make mention of a famous quote by Winston Churchill which said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”. Of course, today we exist in a society where much emphasis is placed on personal wealth accumulation. However, we must always remember the less fortunate among us, and the fact that life in abundance, comes as a result of giving ourselves to others”

She encouraged members of the club to work towards the purpose of the great service organization (Rotary Club) as well as its seven areas of focus which includes the promotion of peace, fight against disease, provision of clean water, sanitation and hygiene, saving mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies and saving our environment.

“This is who we are as Rotarians …we know that the more we give of ourselves, the more we are likely to receive so that we can continue to make a difference in the lives of others”

The installation ceremony also featured profile citations of the Rtn. Ebere among other notable dignitaries as well as goodwill messages from all and sundry for the new President and her leadership team.

The high points of the occasion include the moment of handover, awards conferments and photo shoots of the new President -Rtn Ebere Vivien Chinyere with members of the Rotary Club, family, colleagues and friends.

MORE PICTURES:

Left to Right: Former President and New female president of the Rotary Club of Owerri Cosmopolitan; Rotarian Chimezie Ezinwanne Ogbonna and Ebere Vivien Chinyere