Rotary International says it will henceforth mimic business and population centres across Africa, going forward.
This the focus of the newly nominated International President, Nigerian-born Olayinka Hakeem Babalola, who comes from the Port Harcourt zone.
By this, Rotary International now to be led by an African would push for big impact and participation of Africans especially in big business and population centres.
Babalola said on his triumphant entry into Port Harcourt on Sunday, September 7, 2025; “We need to make sure that the Rotary demographics with the Rotary population mimics the business centers of the African continent. So if you say, this is Johannesburg, that’s a business area, population centre for Africa. I want to go into Johannesburg and see Rotary mimic that same situation. Whether it is in Kampala, it is in Lagos, in Port Harcourt,” Babalola said.
With a surging youthful population, currently estimated to be about 1.5 billion across the continent, Africa is said to be set to lead the 120-year old Rotary International next year.
This was made possible through the recent nomination of Babalola, as the President-elect for the Rotary Year 2026-2027.
Rotarians of District 9141, comprising Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers, are already upbeat over the opportunity for an African to lead the over 1.4 million Rotarians all over the world for the second time in years.
Their excitement further increases with the fact that their district is the home district of the incoming Rotary International President.
Olayinka Hakeem Babalola, on touching down at the Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa, on September 7, 2025, said the call to lead Rotary International is a call for service to humanity, and a call to bring to fruition those pursuits that the club has embarked on over time.
Such pursuits include the elimination of polio globally, maternal and child health, potable drinking water, peace and conflict resolution, and others.
Babalola said Africa possesses a youthful population, which energies should be channeled towards making the world a better place.
His expectations, as President-elect, aligns with the Rotary vision statement, which says, “together we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe in our communities and in ourselves.
“Now that is our vision statement. So everything, every plan has to be aligned with that vision statement. Let me also let you know that deriving from that vision statement we have action plans.
“It’s a multi-year action plan and those action plans have four priorities. To expand our reach, to increase our impact, to enhance our participants’ engagement, and to increase our ability to adapt. Those are the priorities we have to deliver and every year we have objectives to deliver within those priorities,” he said.
Babalola said his plans for Africa are tied to the Rotary vision, adding that “I’m glad that my brother, Emmanuel Katongole, is our director-elect for Africa.
“This will be the second time in Rotary’s history they are going to have two Africans on the Rotary International Board. You have a president and you have a director. Emmanuel Katongole is from Uganda.
“With people like Emmanuel in charge of the African continent, and with my support at that level also, I think Africa has exciting times ahead. I have no doubt about that.
“We will need to grow Rotary on our continent, which is in line with expanding our reach, increasing our impact, we need to grow Rotary.
Emmanuel Katongole, a Ugandan and Rotary International Director-elect for Africa (Zone 22), flew in to be part of those that received the President-elect at the Port Harcourt International Airport Omagwa on Sunday.
Katongole said “Africa is on the global map. And this can be exemplified that the next Rotary International President is going to come from Africa, from Nigeria, from this beautiful Garden City of Port Harcourt.
“For that, we must put Africa in total leadership in what we do. One, by increasing our impact. As I said, we must not tire until polio is eliminated from the face of the world. We must make sure that we do so many projects that will change the face of the world.”
He said Africa is ready for the opportunity to lead Rotary International, adding that the continent is the fastest growing zone in Rotary globally, with net growth making it number one for the last three years.
“Other areas are declining, Africa is rising. That means we are ready and I can assure you we’re not going to stop at Yinka Babalola being president, we’re going to get other presidents. But, it’s not only getting presidents, it’s changing the face of the world.”
He said the Rotary International President-elect “is young, he’s energetic, he’s the first Rotaractor to become a President of Rotary International. That is historic. That is making of history. We must lift him up and he should fly high.”
Katongole, who reeled out Rotary’s impact on the world and continent, said he started the biggest pharmaceutical manufacturing company in Africa for HIV/Aids and malaria “simply because a Rotarian held my hand. We must thus hold many other hands.”
He pointed out that “Rotary is involved in a range of humanitarian programs, be it basic education and literacy, preventing disease.
Probably, this is an area where we’ve excelled. Because of Rotary, polio is about to get phased off from the face of the world.
“We’re involved in giving clean water to people who do not have clean water. We’re involved in maternal and child health. We’re involved in peace. As I speak now, we’ve got eight Rotary Peace Centres spread across major universities in the world. With one of them being Makerere University in Africa, and doing a fantastic job to promote peace and prosperity. To prevent conflict in the world.
“We’re involved in preserving Mother Earth. Mother Earth is in danger of destruction if we do not protect our environment.
“Rotary is everywhere trying to do good and touching people’s hearts. Rotary in Nigeria is doing a lot to prevent and treat malaria. Rotary across Africa is doing a lot to prevent and treat HIV-AIDS.
“I know the Nigerian Rotarians are very much involved in the prevention and treatment for Hepatitis B. But as our priority number one, it’s going to remain polio until we close that,” Katongole said.
Ijeoma Pearl Okoro, trustee of the Rotary Foundation, reminded Rotarians that the nomination of Babalola as President-elect is a wake-up call for greater commitment to service and the principles of Rotary by club members, particularly those of District 9141, his home district.
Anthony Osaretin Woghiren, Governor of District 9141, and Anthony Olikagu, District Governor-elect, who is to assume office in 2026, both pledged to support the efforts of the Rotary International President-elect to raise the bar at the international arena.
