Towards addressing some of the education and health challenges of pupils and students particularly those of the very poor and less privileged in Agharha-Otor Kingdom of Ughelli Local Government Area, Delta state, Rotary Club of Agbarha-Otor, District 9141 on Saturday, September 11, 2021, launched a health and education development fund.
The launching which took place at the Ibru Centre, Agbarha-Otor also saw the presentation of awards of excellence to some distinguished personalities who have contributed to the development and upliftment of the kingdom.
A posthumous award during the ceremony was presented to the first civilian governor of Delta State, Olorogun Felix Ibru.
One of the halls at the Ibru Centre, Agbarha-Otor, played host to some eminent personalities from far and near who converged there to identify and support the humanitarian and selfless pursuits of the Rotary Club of Agbarha-Otor.
The Ovie of Agbarha-Otor Kingdom, Okorefe The First led a retinue of Urhobo traditional rulers to the occasion which was chaired by Rotarian Austin Isire, with the Group Managing Director of Income Electrix Limited, Engineer Matthew Edevbie, as the Chief Launcher.
Giving insights into why Rotary Club of Agbarha-Otor embarked on the health and education development fund, the Charter President, Rotary Club of Agbarha-Otor, Rotarian Ominimini Obiuwevbi said the fund will be a major boost to the present and future development of Agbarha-Otor Kingdom noting that most parents cannot afford school uniforms, books, enrollment for external examinations and other educational needs of their children.
“According to a renowned academic, erudite professor, Bruce Onobrakpeya, “No matter how big it is, money spent on human resource is not a waste”.
“Most of our parents cannot afford school uniforms, sanders, talkless of books and enrollment of external exams for their children. We, therefore, have a high number of children out of school and the figure keeps rising annually.
“Some of our intelligent higher institution students have left school due to complete lack of finance. But through you, Rotary shall change the story by the grace of God,” said Rotarian Ominimini.
On health, Rotarian Ominimini lamented that more often people die from minor challenges that are treatable such as Malaria, Typhoid, Appendicitis and Fibroids in Agbarha-Otor.
He said, “People are becoming blind because they can’t afford to pay for Cataract operation. The height of it all is that our people do not know their “Health Status”, so death becomes very rampant.
“Avoidable deaths become unavoidable. This is where Rotary is needed to bridge the gap.”
Dealing with the myriad of health and education challenges, he opined the challenges should not be left in the hands of the government hence Rotary Club of Agbarha-Otor is intervening to bridge the gap to avert the far-reaching implications of continued neglect of both critical sectors of human existence.
Speaking on the awardees, Chief Ominimini said they have distinguished themselves in rendering selfless service to humanity.
Prince Austin Isire, who chaired the event said Rotary is a global network of more than 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders and problem-solvers, who see the world where people unite and take actions necessary to create lasting changes and growth.
Engineer Matthew Edevbie, the Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, Udurhie The First and others who spoke at the ceremony said they were glad to identify with the development fund of the Rotary Club of Agbarha-Otor because it is aimed at touching lives.
Those presented awards include the Urhobo traditional rulers present and led by the Ovie of Agbarha-Otor Kingdom, Okorefe The First, Engineer Matthew Edevbie, Prince Austin Isire, Vice President and President-Elect of Rotary Club of Agbarha-Otor, Rotarian Joseph Ebasa and Professor Sam Iboje.
The event also featured a rendition of rotary, prayer and song as well as a dance performance by the Ema Dance Group of Agbarha-Otor.
The Rotary Club of Agbarha-Otor had on Monday, September 6, 2021, presented a posthumous award of Excellence for Infrastructural and Community Development to Olorogun Michael Ibru, to mark his 5th-year memorial.
