Rotary International President-elect Olayinka Babalola urges members to create lasting impact by welcoming newcomers, leading projects, and transforming communities globally

Rotary International President-elect Olayinka H. Babalola has urged members to create lasting impact by making their clubs more welcoming, undertaking meaningful projects, and allowing Rotary experiences to transform them personally.

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Speaking at Rotary’s International Assembly in Orlando, Florida, USA, on 12 January, Babalola said, “Rotary has changed us. It has shaped who we are and made us better people. We often talk about changing the world… but we do not think enough about how Rotary transforms us.”

Babalola, a member of the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi, Nigeria, highlighted the transformative power of Rotary from his own experience in Rotaract as a teenager.

He credited his early exposure to community service, such as teaching literacy, for expanding his perspective and shaping his values.

“Change is only the beginning. Impact is what endures,” he said, stressing the difference between short-term change and sustainable, long-term impact.

Demonstrating Impact

He cited examples of Rotary’s enduring initiatives, including early childhood education expansion in Knysna, South Africa, and the Together for Healthy Families project in Nigeria.

Both projects have improved communities for generations by empowering local women, increasing access to education, and reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.

Welcoming New Members

Babalola also encouraged Rotary members to adopt a more inclusive attitude toward newcomers.

Recalling his own early experience of being rebuffed when trying to join a Rotary club, he emphasised the importance of making all members feel respected and valued.

“You never know whose Rotary story might begin — or end — based on the way you make them feel at a meeting or service project,” he said.

Personal and Community Growth

He concluded by urging district leaders to surpass their past achievements in fundraising, project planning, and membership recruitment.

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“When we change ourselves, we change our clubs and districts. When we change our communities, we create lasting impact across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves,” Babalola said.