Excellence Awards, Humanitarian Gestures Mark Adecom’s Rotary Investiture in Ibadan

Matilda Omonaiye/

It was glitz, glamour, and a celebration of service on Saturday, August 30, as Rotarian Adewale Adesina, fondly known as ADECOM, was installed as the 7th President of the Rotary Club of Ibadan Elebu-Metropolis. The colourful investiture ceremony, held at the Worldlilies Event Place, Ibadan, attracted traditional rulers, Rotarians, top professionals, and dignitaries from all walks of life.

Adesina, resplendent in traditional attire and accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Comfort Adesina, and their children, officially took over the leadership baton from Rotarian Latifat Biobaku, the 6th President of the Club.

In his acceptance speech, Adesina expressed gratitude to his colleagues for entrusting him with the responsibility of steering the Club for the 2025–2026 Rotary year. He charged members to rally around him in executing life-changing projects.

“Rotary is good. To all non-Rotarians, it’s time to join Rotary so we can serve humanity together with our 3Ts — Time, Treasure, and Talent,” Adesina said.
True to Rotary’s spirit of service, the event featured empowerment initiatives, including the distribution of sewing machines, hairdressing kits, cash gifts, and other items to support members of the public in starting small businesses.

One of the beneficiaries of the empowerment initiatives of the Rotary Club Ibadan Elebu-Metropolis

One of the high points of the evening was the conferment of Excellence Awards on outstanding personalities who have made remarkable contributions in their fields and to humanity. Among the awardees were:
• Dr. Tobi Abiola FCA (10-Star Paul Harris Fellow)
• Rotarian Dipo Kehinde, publisher of NewsmakersNG
• Engr. Bolaji Silva
• Media entrepreneur Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat of Agidigbo FM
• Otunba Omogbolahan Farouk Tokosi
• Prof. Abayomi Fasina (Chairman of the occasion)
• Hon. Abiodun Fadeyi, Deputy Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly
• Oba Joel Titiloye, Olufoye II of Oro Kingdom (Royal Father of the Day)
• Prof. Christopher Imumolen, General Tunde Awoyoola, Dr. Olalekan Adisa, and several other eminent personalities.

Rotarian Dipo Kehinde receiving the Leadership Service Award, at the event, in appreciation of his exceptional leadership, vision and dedication to serving others in his community. — Rotarian Dipo Kehinde expresses appreciation after receiving the Leadership Service Award, at the event, in appreciation of his exceptional leadership, vision and dedication to serving others in his community.

Reacting, Rotarian Dipo Kehinde pledged to continue giving his best in service to humanity, while Engr. Silva described the recognition as motivation to further his contributions to community and national development. Oba Titiloye, who was also conferred with honorary membership of the Club, hailed Rotary International as a “beacon of love and service.”

Prof. Fasina, in his goodwill message, lauded Rotary’s enduring commitment to human welfare, revealing that he himself had benefitted from its goodwill in the past.

The event blended celebration with humanitarian impact, reinforcing Rotary’s ethos of service above self and placing Rotarian Adewale Adesina firmly in the spotlight as he begins his tenure at the helm of the Ibadan Elebu-Metropolis Club.