Former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, has urged Nigeria to build stronger institutions anchored on effective leadership, accountability and adherence to core values, saying they remain the foundation for sustainable development and lasting national impact.
Ganduje spoke on Saturday in Abuja during the investiture of Rotarian Sikiru Adetona Owonikoko as District Governor of Rotary International District 9127, where he described Rotary as a model institution whose longevity is rooted in discipline, service and humanitarian values.
The ceremony attracted government officials, captains of industry, legal practitioners, Rotarians from across the country, as well as family members and friends of the new district governor.
Drawing from his experience in public administration, Ganduje said Nigeria’s challenge was not the absence of sound policies but weak implementation structures.
“We have good policies, but implementation is often faulty. Successful implementation is only possible when you have strong institutions,” he said.
According to him, sustainable institutions require visionary leadership, clear rules, compliance with established regulations and unwavering commitment to their core values.
He noted that Rotary had remained relevant globally because its activities are driven by humanitarian service.
Reflecting on his tenure as governor of Kano State, Ganduje recalled the resistance encountered during the polio eradication campaign, saying some parents hid their children to evade immunisation until sustained public enlightenment and decisive interventions changed attitudes.
“Prevention is better than cure. Eventually, people became convinced, and Kano ceased to be the epicentre of polio,” he said.
He added that Rotary’s humanitarian interventions were becoming increasingly important as Nigeria continued to grapple with security and economic challenges affecting vulnerable communities.
In his acceptance speech, Owonikoko unveiled a reform agenda for District 9127, pledging to prioritise institutional reforms, membership expansion, technology adoption and greater appreciation of members.
“My first priority is reform in our district. That process has already commenced,” he said.
He said the district would aggressively pursue membership growth while deploying technology to improve service delivery, stressing that members who are appreciated become more committed to humanitarian service.
Owonikoko reaffirmed Rotary’s commitment to its seven areas of focus—peacebuilding and conflict prevention, disease prevention and treatment, water, sanitation and hygiene, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, community economic development, and environmental protection.
“There is no compromise regarding these seven areas of focus. We will continue to pursue them in line with Rotary International’s vision,” he said.
Delivering the keynote address on the theme, “Creating Lasting Impact,” Senior Special Assistant to the President on Delivery and Coordination, Dr. Aishatu Kabir, urged Rotarians to focus on strategic service, youth empowerment and measurable community development.
She said genuine impact should not be measured by ceremonies or publicity but by lives transformed and communities positively changed.
“The real question is: what has changed? Lasting impact is not noise; it is legacy. It is what remains after the cameras leave,” she said.
Kabir observed that while Nigeria excels at launching programmes and committees, the real challenge lies in delivering tangible results.
“Service must go beyond launching; it must deliver,” she stressed.
She also called for greater investment in young people through mentorship, training and empowerment, describing them as critical partners in nation-building.
In an emotional tribute, Kabir described Owonikoko as a mentor and father figure whose generosity and encouragement had shaped her personal and professional journey.
Chairman of the occasion and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ahmed Raji, described Owonikoko as a committed humanitarian whose passion for service reflected the values inherited from his late father.
“Sikiru is like a kid brother, and humanitarian blood flows in him,” Raji said, recalling the support he received from Owonikoko’s father while growing up.
Raji also highlighted the history of Rotary International, founded in 1905 by Paul Harris and his associates, and jokingly announced his intention to join the organisation.
Outgoing District Governor Dr. Nky Joy Okoro, in her valedictory address, disclosed that clubs across District 9127 executed more than 1,000 humanitarian projects during her tenure while recording significant growth in membership and contributions to The Rotary Foundation.
According to her, the district expanded its interventions in maternal and child health, education, youth development and polio eradication, leaving the organisation stronger than it was at the beginning of her administration.
“Leadership changes, but service remains. Titles change, but friendship remains. Rotary years come to an end, but the impact of service continues forever,” she said.
