November 05, (THEWILL) — The Rotary Foundation has reiterated its commitment to strengthening community health systems and accelerating humanitarian impact across Nigeria, as its Trustee Chair, Holger Knaack, engaged Rotarians in a high-level Town Hall Meeting in Akwa Ibom State.
Knaack, who was accompanied by his spouse, Susanne, charged Rotary districts in the country to fully leverage Foundation grants to execute transformative projects in health, education, water and peace-building.
“Our Foundation is a tool for transformation; we must use it to impact where it matters most — in our communities”, Knaack said, urging Nigerian Rotary leaders to scale life-changing programmes through collaboration and accountability.
The meeting brought together District Governors, Past District Governors, Rotaractors, Foundation partners and media professionals, who engaged in an interactive session on grant management, transparency and sustainability.
A major highlight was the reaffirmation of Rotary’s global pledge to eradicate polio, with Trustee PDG Ijeoma Okoro noting that “the finish line is in sight” and calling for sustained vigilance to protect current gains. “Our promise to end polio is everlasting”, she said, drawing applause from attendees.
Rotary also unveiled progress on the Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge (RHCC), a disease-prevention initiative targeting illnesses such as malaria, diarrhoea and pneumonia. PDG Dele Balogun announced Akwa Ibom as one of the pilot states, describing the initiative as “a continuation of Rotary’s legacy of saving lives”.
“Just as we defeated polio, we will defeat child-killer diseases by working hand-in-hand with communities and government”, Balogun stated, while PDG Adeyemi Oladokun urged Rotarians to serve as advocates and mobilisers at the community level.
Earlier, Knaack led a delegation to Governor Umo Eno and other state officials, reiterating Rotary’s readiness to partner with government and traditional institutions to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and support frontline workers, including CHIPS Agents.
The team also visited the Primary Healthcare Operational Base in Eket for an engagement session with grassroots health personnel, underscoring Rotary’s hands-on approach to community empowerment.
In a separate engagement, the Trustee Chair commissioned the Rotary Club of Uyo Shelter Afrique’s star project — newly built market stalls at Afaha Market in Ibesikpo Asutan — executed by Club President Patricia Essien-Obot to improve trading conditions for local women and small businesses.
Knaack praised the project as a “true reflection of Rotary’s essence, service that uplifts communities and transforms lives,” a moment that inspired the Executive Chairman of Ibesikpo Asutan, Hon. Edidiong Inyang, and two other council leaders to formally join Rotary.
The gesture drew enthusiastic celebration from members, reinforcing Rotary’s growing influence in governance and grassroots development initiatives.
Knaack’s visit, Rotarians said, served as a powerful call to renewed action, deepened commitment to service and strengthened Rotary’s mission to build healthier, more resilient communities across Nigeria.
“Rotary is here, Rotary cares, and Rotary is making a difference, one life at a time”, Knaack declared, saying the event closed on a note of hope and purpose.
