THE HISTORY OF DISTRICT 9130, Nigeria
A Part of Our History of
Rotary in Africa
Prepared by the district and not verified by Rotary Global History
The message of Rotary spread to Nigeria in
1961 when the first Rotary club in Nigeria was chartered in
Kano on the 28th April 1961 in the 56th
year of Rotary.
Before then the first Rotary club in Africa had been established in
1921, 40 years ahead of Nigeria while the first Rotary club in West
Africa was established in Dakar, Senegal in 1939 about 22 years
before Nigeria.
Nigeria indeed was the 32nd nation to receive
Rotary in Africa!
After the Rotary club in Kano, the Rotary club of Lagos was chartered on
30th May 1961 and then, the Rotary club of Ibadan on 24th November 1961.
By 1973, the number of clubs in Nigeria were large enough for
grouping with other clubs outside Nigeria to form the new Rotary
International District 210 with Rotarian Francois Amorin of the
Rotary club of Cotonou – Benin Republic as the first District
Governor.
In 1972/73, Nigeria produced her first District Governor for
District 210 when Rotarian Anofi Guobadia of the Rotary club of
Ikeja came into office.
Renumbering of Rotary districts around the world, gave
us the new number District 910.
During
the period 1973 to 1981, Rotarians from about 14 countries in West
Africa were grouped into one District. The effect of Rotary was felt
by the society through its various laudable projects and activities.
Nigeria produced her second District Governor in 1980/81 when
Rotarian John Majiyagbe of the Rotary club of Kano took charge of
the much bigger District. This huge increase in the number of clubs, encouraged RI to consider
redistricting with the creation of the Rotary District 911
comprising all clubs throughout Nigeria in 1982 – 83 Rotary year.
It was the first time that Nigeria was given a
district all to itself.
The first District Governor of the newly created All Nigerian
District 911 was Rotarian Past District Governor Julius
Adelusi-Adeluyi.
In that year (1982 – 83), PDG Juli as he is fondly
called criss-crossed Nigeria several times doing some 26,000
kilometers by air, by land and over water to spread the message of
Rotary with the support of well chosen, motivated, committed and
coordinated team of District officers.
PDG Juli and his team created a new dawn for Rotary in Nigeria with
establishment of 31 new clubs, thus having a growth of about 100% in
one Rotary year!
This feat won the commendation and salutation of
Rotary International as the best ever from any District in the
Rotary world at that time.
This growth again encouraged the redistricting
of the District 911 to form two Districts for Nigeria.
PDG Bob
Ogbuagu took over form PDG Juli and sustained the tempo with great
charm and promotions, typical of a PR Guru and veteran that he is.
With the redistricting exercise, PDG Babs became the third District
Governor of District 911 comprising six states and the FCT i.e.
Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Kwara, Sokoto and FCT.
The clubs in the remaining part of Nigeria went with District 912.
Thus it was less cumbersome to manage and consolidate the growth
already achieved which PDG Babs Ajayi did effectively and sustained
as well. With sustained growth, PDG Bayo Adetunji became District
Governor in 1985/86 as the 4th Governor of the District before
another redistricting exercise took place and like PDG Bob Ogbuagu
he had to belong to the newly created District after serving as
Governor of District 911.
By the first July 1986, Nigeria has started the Rotary year with 4 Districts namely District 911, 912, 913 and 914.
During the last 20 years, District 9130 changed only with the world-wide addition of the last "0" from 913.
Now, District 9130 is made up of 28 clubs spread across 7 states including the Federal Capital
Territory, Abuja, four South-Western states of Ondo, Osun and Oyo; the North-Central states of Kogi and Kwara.
District 9130 of Rotary International has the unique geographical feature of being the only Rotary
District that embraces both pre-independence Southern and Northern Nigeria.
