Rotary Club of Amawbia Sport City Celebrates Rotary at 121 Years in Style.

By Felix Udodirim ,Awka

The Rotary Club of Amawbia Sport City lead by their president Rt. Winnie Aghanya has yesterday followed their counterparts all over the world to commemorate and celebrate the Rotary at 121years for doing good.as well as International women’s day .

The event took place at Winsome eat and smile centre Amawbia .Anambra state.

The theme remains Celebrating 121 years of “Transforming Lives ‘
and International women’s day .

Aghanya,in her speech advice members to look at Paul Hariss character ,what he did to us and seen that since 1905,Rotary has been moving forward ,Let us be part of the impactful services to humanity. She advised.

In their separate,speeches, Some past Assistant Governors of the Rotary International and major donor of Rotary foundation Rtn Dennis Chukwukelu Ekemezie, Rtn Chika Ekwueme and Rtn Chika Vin Nwankwo talked about the impact of women in Rotary ,The Imperative of Rotary Impactful Service Delivery: A Reflection on 121 Years Anniversary of Rotary International.

According to their speeches “The Rotary provides leadership that have eradicated polio meningitis in all over the world and Nigeria is a beneficiary.

” Polio is no longer circulating n Nigeria,courtesy of Rotary.These are some milestones of Rotary.
“Rotary have 7 prestigious universities in 7 countries where people are given scholarships to study peace and conflict resolutions.

“So Rotary is interested in peace ,Rotary pursue, peace and carries out interventions in the world ,countries and communities for the purpose of building peace.

“And we also celebrates the event of 1989 where Rotary opens the door for admission of women into Rotary before then it was specifically for men.

“Today we celebrate women in Rotary as part of global international women day.

“Rotary is an avenue to join in touching lives in the way of community development ,humanitarian services ,leadership and touching the lives of indigent people in the society.

“A Reflection on 121 Years of Purpose when Paul Harris founded Rotary in 1905 in Chicago, his vision was simple yet revolutionary: to create a fellowship of professionals committed to ethical conduct and community service. What began as a small gathering has grown into a global movement of over 1.4 million members across more than 200 countries and geographical areas.For over a century, Rotary has remained relevant because it has remained
responsive. It has evolved with the times while holding firmly to its core values — fellowship, integrity, diversity, service, and leadership.

“Today, as we celebrate the 121st anniversary, the question before us is not merely how far we have come, but how impactful our service truly is.

The Imperative of Impactful Service Delivery service without impact is activity.Service with measurable change is transformation.The imperative before Rotary today is not just to execute projects, but to deliver results that are sustainable, inclusive, and measurable.Impactful service delivery requires:(a) Needs-Based Intervention .We must design projects based on real community needs assessments, not assumptions. The community must be involved in identifying its own priorities.(b) Sustainability

A borehole that breaks down in six months is charity.A water system maintained by trained community members is impact.(c) Partnerships rotary thrives when it collaborates — with governments, NGOs, private sector actors, and local leaders.(d) Accountability and Transparency impact demands stewardship. Every naira, every dollar entrusted to Rotary must translate into visible, traceable results.

Rotary and the Global Agenda for Peace .As Chair of the Rotary Action Group for Peace in District 9142, I must emphasize that peace is not merely the absence of war. Peace is access to education. Peace is economic opportunity. Peace is gender equity. Peace is justice.Through programs such as the Rotary Peace Fellowship and global grants, Rotary continues to shape leaders who resolve conflict and build harmony in divided communities.True impactful service is preventive — it addresses the root causes of instability: poverty, illiteracy, inequality, and marginalization.

Rotary at 121 and the 2026 International Year of Women. It is profoundly symbolic that this celebration coincides with activities marking the 2026 International Year of Women.Across the globe, women remain disproportionately affected by poverty, limited access to education, maternal health challenges, and economic exclusion.

Rotary must continue to be a platform for empowering women — not as beneficiaries alone, but as leaders and decision-makers.We must:Support girl-child education.Promote maternal and child health.Provide economic empowerment opportunities.
Ensure women’s representation in Rotary leadership structures.When women thrive, communities prosper.Impactful service delivery must therefore be gender-responsive and inclusive.5. Rotary in District 9142: The Road Ahead district 9142 stands at a critical moment in history.

Our communities face economic pressures, youth unemployment, insecurity, and environmental challenges.The way forward demands:Stronger clubs with strategic vision.Youth engagement through Rotaract and Interact.Increased membership driven by value and purpose.Data-driven evaluation of projects.We must move from counting projects to measuring lives changed.

Rotary is not a social club with occasional charity.It is a moral commitment to humanity.The Four-Way Test must not remain ceremonial words recited at meetings. It must guide our personal conduct, professional ethics, and public engagement.As we mark 121 years, we must ask ourselves:Are we bold enough to innovate?Are we transparent enough to be trusted?Are we united enough to amplify our impact?

. A Call to Renewed Commitment At 121, Rotary is not old — it is seasoned.It is not tired — it is tested.It is not fading — it is evolving.Let this anniversary not merely be a celebration of history but a recommitment to the future.Let every Rotary Club in District 9142:Adopt at least one high-impact sustainable project annually.Strengthen partnerships with credible institutions.Invest deliberately in youth and women.Prioritize peace-building initiatives.

“As we celebrate 121 years of Rotary International, we are reminded that the true measure of our legacy will not be in plaques or anniversaries, but in the number of lives dignified, empowered, and transformed.May we continue to live by “Service Above Self.”May we build peace where there is conflict.May we empower women where there is inequality.May we deliver service that is not only visible — but impactful.Happy 121st Anniversary to Rotary International.Thank you, and may Rotary continue to light the path of hope in our communities.