Rotary Foundation Invests $33.5m In Nigeria, Says President-Elect
The Rotary Foundation has invested $33.5m in various humanitarian and health interventions across Nigeria in the last three years, far exceeding the country’s contribution within the same period.
Rotarian Olayinka Akeem Babalola, Rotary International President-elect for 2026–2027, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja during an interactive session with journalists.
Babalola, who will become the second African to lead the global humanitarian organisation with over 1.4 million members in more than 200 countries, said the foundation’s financial commitment to Nigeria underscores the impact of Rotary’s mission to create lasting change.
Babalola’s emergence marks a historic milestone, making him only the second African – and the second Nigerian – to lead the global humanitarian organisation.
The first was Jonathan Babatunde Majiyagbe, who served from 2003 to 2004.
“On average, Rotary in Nigeria would donate to the Rotary Foundation about $3m when the economy is bad, and about $5m when it is good. But in Nigeria alone, Rotary Foundation has spent $33.5m in the last three years,” he said.
According to him, the investments cover critical health programs, including maternal and child health, malaria, diarrhoea, and pneumonia interventions.
He noted that in Gombe, Nasarawa, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Rotary has committed $2m to a pilot scheme aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality.
Babalola recounted his visit to a health facility in Gombe where community leaders testified to Rotary’s impact.
“The chief imam told me, Please tell Rotary, thank you. Since Rotary started working with us in the last 18 months, we have not recorded any death of a mother or a child in this health facility,’’ he said.
He also revealed that Rotary is currently implementing a $9.8m project in Kebbi and Akwa Ibom States targeting malaria, diarrhoea, and pneumonia, with lessons drawn from a successful $4m malaria intervention in Zambia that reduced deaths by nearly 50 per cent.
He also said that Rotary clubs across Nigeria would continue to support communities through grassroots projects in education, maternal care, and infrastructure.
Describing his emergency as a “privilege” for Nigeria and Africa, he said his leadership would further open doors for stronger partnerships between Rotary and stakeholders across the continent.
“Even without a president from Nigeria, Rotary has always paid attention to our country. But with this new role, I believe more exciting opportunities lie ahead, not only for Nigeria but for Africa and the Rotary world at large,” Babalola said.
Rotary Foundation Invests $33.5m In Nigeria, Says President-Elect is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
