The Rotary Club of Ibadan Prestige has invested Rotarian Bankole Oyewole as its seventh president for the 2026–2027 Rotary year.

The colourful investiture and fundraising ceremony was held on Saturday at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, and attracted Rotarians, family members, friends, philanthropists and other distinguished guests.

A major attraction at the event was the presence of members of the Love City, a group comprising classmates and old friends of the new Rotary president from The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

Among them was Alhaji Bolaji Abimbola, Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Indigo Limited, a strategic communications and public relations outfit, who was also among personalities honoured at the ceremony.

The presence of the Love City members added a strong personal and nostalgic dimension to the occasion, as they joined other guests to celebrate their former schoolmate and friend on his emergence as the seventh president of the Rotary Club of Ibadan Prestige.

The District Governor of Rotary International District 9126, Rotarian Olaniyi Amoo Okin, who inducted new members into the club, commended the Rotary Club of Ibadan Prestige for its membership growth.

Okin said the club had inducted more new members than other clubs in the district, stressing that increased membership would strengthen Rotary’s capacity to mobilise resources and deliver humanitarian services.

He urged Rotarians to continue to attract people who understand and are willing to uphold Rotary’s values of service and humanitarianism.

The District Governor also called on individuals to embrace humanitarian service by giving to people in need, including those they might never meet.

In his acceptance speech, the new president, Rotarian Bankole Oyewole, pledged to build on the achievements of previous administrations while pursuing initiatives that would further strengthen the club.

Oyewole identified unity, increased membership, fellowship and collective responsibility as key priorities of his administration.

He called for forgiveness and reconciliation among members, urging them to resolve disagreements amicably and place the interest of the club above personal differences.

The new president promised to make the Rotary Club of Ibadan Prestige one of the leading clubs in the district and to increase its membership rather than allow it to decline.

He unveiled his administration’s slogan as “United in Spirit, Driven to Serve — One Spirit, One Prestige.”

Oyewole also expressed appreciation to his wife, Adekunbi, and their children, Faye and Fayo, for their support and encouragement.

Earlier in his valedictory address, the immediate past president, Rotarian Abiodun Aderemi, highlighted some of the achievements recorded during his 2025–2026 administration.

They included maternal and child health interventions at Ago Atapa Community Health Centre, donation of educational materials to Savior African School, Ekotedo, participation in the World Polio Awareness Campaign and sponsorship of three Rotaractors for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards.

Aderemi also cited the club’s participation in Rotary Family Health Days, rehabilitation of a borehole to restore access to clean water, and involvement in the refurbishment of the Radio Nigeria Staff Clinic alongside other Rotary clubs in Ibadan.

He urged members to extend the same support and cooperation to the new administration.

The ceremony also featured the induction of the new Board of Directors, new members, fundraising, an auction and presentation of awards to eight distinguished Nigerians.

The awardees included Dr Tayo Adesoji; Commander Isaac Ademola Ajibike, retired; Olumide Daramola, President of Ibadan Recreation Club 1902; Alhaji Bolaji Abimbola; Chief Abiodun Abdulquazem Adeyemi; Abayomi Rafiu Alabi; Mr Francis Adewole; and Dr Abdul-Azeez Olajide Adediran, popularly known as JANDOR.

The newly inducted Board of Directors is headed by Rotarian Bankole Oyewole as President, with Omotolani Sotiloye as Vice President and Babatunde Faroun as Secretary and President-Nominee.

Other members include Tijani Roqib, Folake Ladeinde, Abiodun Aderemi, Abayomi Alabi, Wumi Akintoroye, Seye Famoriyo and Afeez Uthman, who are saddled with various responsibilities to support the administration.

The occasion ended with goodwill messages from guests and Rotarians, who congratulated Oyewole and expressed confidence in his ability to consolidate the achievements of previous administrations.

The ceremony further reaffirmed the club’s commitment to Rotary’s enduring principle of “Service Above Self”, with renewed emphasis on humanitarian service, membership development, fellowship and community development.