Rotary District 9125 Tuesday inaugurated its 1,600 seating capacity hall in Abuja named after a billionaire businessman, Dr. Emeka Offor.
The edifice, which is located in Idu Industrial layout, Abuja, was donated by the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) and gulped N73.8m.
The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, in his address, commended Offor for his contributions to serve humanity and called on Nigerians to key into the Rotary’s four-way test for a better nation.
He said: “This four-way test of Rotary – `is it the truth, is it fair to all, will it build goodwill and better friendship and will it be beneficial to all concerned’ are excellent standards, which I wish in Nigeria we can apply universally, especially in this day of social media. With this, the country we will be a better society, a more united society and we will be more tolerant’’.
Also, the former Senate President, Dr. Ken Nnamani, while commending Offor said: “the Rotary is giving a good example in Nigeria and elsewhere, I want the Rotary movement to continue to encourage people to imbibe the habit of giving and the habit of service.’’
Speaking about the hall, the Chief of Staff of SEOF, AIG, Mr Chris Ezike (retd), explained that the hall was conceived as a friendship centre where the ideas of rotary would not only be promoted but propagated in love for humanity.
Ezike said: “The ground breaking of the project was performed on March 11, 2020 by Offor in the company of his friends, many of whom are here today at the inauguration.
“This 1,600 capacity edifice is the first of its kind within District 9125, which is made up of FCT and 23 other states.There is no doubt therefore that this hall will offer tremendous opportunities to Rotarians, clubs and the community to take maximum advantage.’’
On her part, the District Governor , District 9125, Mrs Jumoke Bamigboye, said the building was financed by Offor and thanked him for the gesture.
“We are grateful to Sir Emeka Offor, Rotary Ambassador and a great son of Nigeria for his large heart. He has not just built and donated this hall, he has contributed over three million dollars to the rotary foundation to fight polio and continue to do well in the world.
In an interview with journalists, Offor said he embarked on the project in order to provide a meeting point for Rotarians.
“I have travelled widely and have attended a lot of rotary functions outside Nigeria and I see that most Rotary Districts outside have a meeting point.
“So, I wanted us to have a rallying point in Nigeria because Nigeria has the largest number of Rotarians in Africa and yet our impact is not well felt the way it should.
“Rotary is about meeting, interacting, friendship and brainstorming, so we now have a comfortable place that we will be meeting,’’ he said.
