History of Rotary Club of Ota
The first Rotary Club in Nigeria was organized through the help of Rotarian Vullemier who invited twenty-one distinguished business and professional men in Kano municipality to form the Rotary club of Kano which was chartered on the 28th April, 1961. About the same time, two other clubs were at various stages of formation in Southern Nigeria: Rotary club of Lagos, chartered 30th May, 1961 and Rotary Club of Ibadan, chartered November of the same year.
Rotary club of Ota formation came in the wake of phenomenal growth of Rotary in Nigeria under the leadership of PDG Julius AdelusiAdeluyi (R C Ikeja) in 1982-1983 Rotary year. Between 1961 (birth of Rotary in Nigeria) and June 1982, there were only twenty-nine Rotary clubs but in 1982 alone, thirty-three new clubs including Rotary Club of Ota were chartered all over Nigeria.
The first formal meeting was held on the 15th of February 1983 at the Sona Breweries Limited, Sango Ota under the auspices of the DGSR Rtn. Wole Thompson of Rotary club of Onigbongbo. Present at the meeting with him were Rtn. Justice Adeoba of the Rotary club of Ikeja who explained the ideals and objects of Rotary and 17 prospective members of Rotary club of Ota including Rtn. Vijay Bhargava (from Rotary Club of Theme North, District 314 India) and Rtn. Alex Ojei (from Rotary Club of Ikeja) who later became charter president and vice president respectively while Rtn. PegbaOtemolu became the secretary.
The club was admitted into the Rotary International on the 23rd May, 1983 with 36 Charter members. Peak membership was 56 in 1986 and now 51 The club meeting has also moved from Sona Breweries, Latwins Hotel, Sango Plaza Hotel to Gateway International Hotel, Ota where it remained for years and also moved temporarily to Access college Hall due to situation of roads in Ota and the crisis of ownership of Gateway Hotel, Ota. Rotary Club of Ota now meets at D’Czars Hotel & Suits, D’Czarsbustop, Ilo-Awela Exp. Road, Toll Gate, Sango Ota, Ogun State. Regular meetings holds every Saturday at 8.00 for 8.30 and 10.00 for 10.30 on Environmental Sanitation days
The club projects have touched lives of so many people. Supporting ijamido motherless home , Sponsored the Akinola's a family of five which four of the children were blinded from birth. The club also donated Ambulance to the General Hospital Ota. Several health services has been carried by the club. Potable water was also provided for rural areas and school. The club also renovated Ilogbo health centre, Ado Odo Health centre and also provided a comfort station at iju health maternity centre. The club also constructed a block of 4 toilet for Ansarudeen primary school at Ado Odo. The Club also embarked on a mission for vision project with partnership with Life Changes Foundation where over 350 people benefitted from the free eye test and glasses provided by the club. Also in the spirit of contributing to assist in reducing the burden of the Covid 19 pandemic in our community, the club partnered with the Ado- Odo Ota Local Government Council Emergency Response Team and donated 700 facemasks and 250 hand sanitizers to the council for distribution to the community.
The Club also erected a bill board at Ijoko and Osi round about, Ota to project the image of Rotary in the community.