Valedictory Address by the Out-Going President Chief M. K. Moradeyo at the Swearing-in and Inauguration of the Management Council of Lagos Country Club on Thursday 8th June 2017.
The Revered Trustees of our Club
Members of the Management Council
Past Presidents
The incoming President
Part Council Members and Chairmen of Sections
Distinguished Members
Ladies and Gentlemen.
It gives me honoured pleasure to congratulate the newly elected president of our club Mr Tajudeen Akande, FCA and all members of the management council on their swearing – in, and inauguration, ceremony.
About three years and two days ago, Mr President, I was in your shoes going through such a ceremony. With campaign promises at the back of my mind, I was ready like you are to hit the ground running.
My aim and aspiration were to make my stewardship a project and as an individual who sees every service opportunity as a business venture, looking forward to succeeding. Our little achievements were with a lot of challenges the main one being financial.
Even when the audited report of that year painted a not too favourable picture, we keep our dreams of a better club alive. But like they say and we all know “dreams die first” (on a lighter note – this may not be very true for Nigeria politicians who die first before their dreams).
The Trustee and members permit me to remind our President that we both had the privilege and honour to serve the club together in my first term, you were in council before me hence your second coming will serve as an added advantage to your administration.
Rick Warren – author of “Purpose Driven Life” said, “People ask me what is the purpose of life?” Life is preparation for eternity as we are not made to last forever. God didn’t put us on earth just to fulfil a to-do list. He is interested in what we are than what we do. That is why we are called human beings, not human doings. But in whatever you chose to do there must be sincerity of purpose, if not, no accomplishments.
Our purpose is to serve our club which is our second and extended family; we never lost focus on that. The founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg said Purpose is that sense that we are part of something bigger than ourselves, that we are needed, that we have something better ahead to work for.
If that is so, then let us create a new sense of purpose not only for ourselves but for others particularly Lagos Country Club.
Let us do several little things if the challenges of big things are enormous not only to create progress but to create purpose.
The purpose is not free, we pay for it, with our everything viz time, energy, wealth and experience. Let us, therefore, give everyone the freedom to pursue their purpose especially when it comes to services to our club, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because when more people, can turn their dreams into something great, we are all better for it.
In the course of our stewardship, a few members advised that we should leave a legacy in term of structures to our name. Many advised we should spend the little money we have and that the incoming administration should also go ahead, make money and spend.
While thanking all, for these unsolicited bits of advice, which one consider not to be in our best interest, we went on to do what we thought best for our club. Hence the idea of taking full responsibility for our actions.
Our legacy is the built of a solid financial foundation for our club. Never in the history of this club since 1949, do we have anything near ₦200million in our books after the year audit. This we are proud of, and to which our appreciation goes to all who made that happened particularly members of the Management Council whom I had the privilege of working with.
Our satisfaction also comes with other little things we did to make our members happy. Just to mention a few viz:
1. If you are one of those whose efforts yielded the highest monetary donations in the history of our club then you had contributed to the growth of us all and the club had gained from you.
2. If you are one of those who used or are using the newly equipped clinic at its present location, then you had gained health wise from the club.
3. If you are one of those, who enjoy regular power supply, sleep under air conditioner in the cool rooms, enjoy a cozy environment while playing your favourite game or enjoying the football matches of your team, without being asked to contribute to the purchase of a new generator, then you had enjoyed your subscription and gained from the club.
4. If you are one of those, who feel secure with your spouse and children whenever you are here than out there then you had gained for the club.
5. If you are one of those who had participated in one or various sporting activities in our sections or had represented us outside the club and had been adequately recognized and rewarded then you had gained from the club.
6. If you are one of those, who enjoy your drinks chilled and at low but reasonable cost at various times with your friends and visitors then you had gained from the club.
The ability of the council to build a club like any other world class club and create a world where every single member has a sense of purpose with sincerity is within the Presidency.
“May the source of strength, who blessed the ones before us, help us find the courage and means to make our lives a blessing”
I hope and pray that Mr. President and his council, find the courage to make our lives and their tenure a blessing to our club.
To my immediate family thank you for donating me for 3 years, for your support and encouragement in the service to the club.
To all those who accommodated me in the course of our service to our club, my appreciation.
To all my friends who are waiting to have me back in their fold and those waiting to “deal” with me after leaving the hot seat, am anxiously waiting and ready for you.
But despite all these, to Almighty God be the glory.
On behalf of my family, let me again use this opportunity to thank the entire membership for the opportunity to serve.
Congratulations again Mr. President, while I most sincerely assure you of my co-operation and best wishes at all times.
Thank you and God bless Lagos Country Club.
Chief K. M. Moradeyo, FICMM, MIoD
8th June 2017.