Page 16 - 2026年7月號

In 2017, Babalola was preparing to serve as ness. He almost drives you crazy because of
an RI director himself. His term was to coin- membership. He gives you fi gures. ‘This is
cide with the year that Sam F. Owori of Uganda where we need to be.’ ‘We need to do this,
was to serve as Rotary president. But the un- and we can.’ I call him the father of member-
ᘌdϽඎՑᆑίٙ͛նΚᎈd
ʿྫМஷɢΥЪdᆽڭޥߴટ
ৰʃՅ௦ຌഃशषࠇ೥։ࡰึ
In 2017, Babalola was preparing to serve as ness. He almost drives you crazy because of
thinkable happened: Owori died of complica- ship in Africa.” ࣛd௞್޶Ցˋˋᖯז१ίԟ➺
membership. He gives you fi gures. ‘This is
an RI director himself. His term was to coin- ၇ʈЪනлආБfˋˋᖯזΫ ͏ගٙΥЪྫМޫ႟ԑʔۃf
˴։௥̙‧௥৷˖ (Michael K.
tions from surgery before he could take o€ ce.
cide with the year that Sam F. Owori of Uganda where we need to be.’ ‘We need to do this,
Refusing to believe it, Babalola tried to
AFTER THE FLAG CEREMONY, BABALOLA
McGovern) ɰଉϞΝชf˼
was to serve as Rotary president. But the un- ኳ༸j˜ତఙٙɛॸॸᑘ˓Ⴉ ್Ͼdͦۃዄ΂ք
and we can.’ I call him the father of member-
hustles backstage to wait while
call Owori, whose wife answered and con-
thinkable happened: Owori died of complica- ჯdШఱ݊ӚϞɓࡈɛᗴจऒ ʿлԭᐼ୕਄ੰत ➺
ship in Africa.”
Ⴍj˜ίዝ΂ٟڗʕd੽͊ϞPresident
Styles, his aide, introduces him. Ba-
fi rmed the news. He called Past RI
tions from surgery before he could take o€ ce.
Jonathan Majiyagbe and Past Director Sam balola swaps his green-and-white hat for one
ԑʰᎈٙ؇̏௅f™
ɛ྅˼ɓᅵdίɓࡈ਷࢕ୋɓ
йᚥਪٙڛॶ౶ᜓ
Refusing to believe it, Babalola tried to
AFTER THE FLAG CEREMONY, BABALOLA
Okudzeto, among the only living senior lead-
hustles backstage to wait while
call Owori, whose wife answered and con- in the same fabric as the presidential ties
ྖڌͪdཞ˂຅μ
ᇞપਗ࣬ৰʃՅ௦ຌٙ˚੬ʈ
್Ͼdˋˋᖯז͍݊ί
ers from Africa at the time, to ask them what and scarves the district governors-elect will
fi rmed the news. He called Past RI President Styles, his aide, introduces him. Ba-
to do. Both deferred to Babalola as the leader receive after the morning session. Someone
ת༺ԟࡈ਋Ⴣٟਜ
ЪኹϞνϤଉێٙ຾᜕d˼ၾ
༈ਜਹҁϓɽኪኪุٙfԟ༁
Jonathan Majiyagbe and Past Director Sam balola swaps his green-and-white hat for one
now. As he pondered that, he got a call from
fortuitously tracks down a pocket square in
Okudzeto, among the only living senior lead- ݊˼ҧቃʘ༩ٙৎᓃd݊ɓࡈ
in the same fabric as the presidential ties
ҧቃٟࡰe΢਷ִ݁dʿΥЪ
ers from Africa at the time, to ask them what the same fabric and Babalola tucks it in just
Ugandan Rotarians asking him what’s next. and scarves the district governors-elect will
“Suddenly it dawned on me,” he says. “I said as Styles is announcing his name. With that,
ྫМேಀ੗ʲΥЪfҢࡁڎԸ
˼ᐝ༆ٙή˙f׵݊d˼ᆇ್
to do. Both deferred to Babalola as the leader receive after the morning session. Someone
༁೯׳ޥߴfμΫኳႭj˜Ң
now. As he pondered that, he got a call from fortuitously tracks down a pocket square in
to myself, ‘Yinka, your role has changed. This he strides onstage.
əೌၾࡐˢٙჯஙf™
whole continent is looking in your direction, the same fabric and Babalola tucks it in just
The audience applauds as Babalola tells the
Ugandan Rotarians asking him what’s next. ᑘৎ˓f˼ΫኳႭj˜הϞɛ ชਗՑႭʔ̈༑Ըfவ݊௰৷
“Suddenly it dawned on me,” he says. “I said as Styles is announcing his name. With that,
Ϋ๑ 2012 ϋd௉ࣺ͛ʃ
ᄴϣٙւᘠeוፕၾڦ΂fኋ
and you need to step up.’”
story of how he was fi nally able to join Ro-
ॸॸᔷ᎘޶ഹҢdːซவ௧͹
to myself, ‘Yinka, your role has changed. This he strides onstage.
Babalola and Owori had already discussed tary. He talks about the impact of Together for
Յ௦ຌषݭίքʿлԭԱᔚໍ
whole continent is looking in your direction, ɓ֛݊ဵəf™ ၍ࠦᑗ௹߅໋ήٙτΌ۾উd
The audience applauds as Babalola tells the
plans for their time together on the RI board. Healthy Families in Nigeria, a massive mater-
and you need to step up.’” story of how he was fi nally able to join Ro-
˼Ա್މəԟԬ਋Ⴣٟਜٙ܀
ί 2011 Ї 2015 ϋගዄ΂
߿fषԷᅰ㌷ʺdˈՉ݊ί؇
Now, it fell to Babalola to execute them. “It was nal and child health program funded by The
Babalola and Owori had already discussed tary. He talks about the impact of Together for
not an easy time,” he says, “but it was a serious Rotary Foundation. And he dramatically an-
̏௅dԟ༁݊ዧආଡ଼ᔌ௹߅໋
ഁd͚ᗴւᘠІʉٙɓʲf™
؇̏௅௹ဧፕψ (Borno) ሊ͛
plans for their time together on the RI board. Healthy Families in Nigeria, a massive mater-
nounces this year’s presidential message, Cre-
moment of growth.”
Now, it fell to Babalola to execute them. “It was nal and child health program funded by The
ᝂڗٙᔜဧီ‧ͺ̺זؚ‧ڛ
ή (Boko Haram) ٙɽ͉ᐄf
One of those plans involved membership ate Lasting Impact, while spreading his arms
not an easy time,” he says, “but it was a serious Rotary Foundation. And he dramatically an-
growth on the continent, an area that Babalola wide and soaking in the enthusiasm of the
຅ࣛԒމ 2011-12 ϋܓήਜᐼ
nounces this year’s presidential mes
moment of growth.” ॶ౶ (Salma Ibrahim Anas) ૶sage, Cre-
had excelled at during his time as club presi- crowd, which is standing and taking photos.
One of those plans involved membership ate Lasting Impact, while spreading his arms ˋˋᖯז܁̺ 2026-27 ϋܓٟ
ูা੻dϞɓϣˋˋᖯזίψ
္ٙˋˋᖯזdան̈ࢩɓఙwori died,
Babalola may be only the second presi-
dent and district governor. When O
growth on the continent, an area that Babalola wide and soaking in the enthusiasm of the ڗ˖ѓfуਗ਼ɪ΂ٙҧቃਿږ
dent from Nigeria, the second from Africa.
Africa was home to 29,000 Rotarians. Today,
ਠী਷࢕࣬ৰʃՅ௦ຌഄଫٙ
crowd, which is standing and taking photos.
had excelled at during his time as club presi- ִᒕӁ̚Ԣ (Maiduguri) ٙ፬ ึڭ၍։ࡰeԸІढʍ༺ٙ
there are 48,000.
But true to Rotary’s values, he will build
dent and district governor. When Owori died, Babalola may be only the second presi- جᚆГ౶‧ྡᘽˢז (Francis
ึᙄfҧቃ৷ᄴჯኬɛҎૐၾ
peace as he travels, promoting understand-
Africa was home to 29,000 Rotarians. Today, ʮ܃ၾμึࠦfμѓൡˋˋᖯ
“There’s something about Yinka and mem- dent from Nigeria, the second from Africa.
But true to Rotary’s values, he will build Tusubira) ڌͪj ˜˼ਗ਼ҧቃთ
bership,” says Virginia Major, a past district ing of the people of a country, beyond the
ึٙۃ΂ʿତ΂ήਜᐼ္dӊ
there are 48,000. זdІʉуਗ਼ۃֻ఻ϵʮԢ̮
governor from Port Harcourt and one of many headlines. He himself will be creating last-
“There’s something about Yinka and mem-
peace as he travels, promoting understand-া׵ːfЫ̙˸ชաՑ˼࿁ҧ
ɛ΢ІႩჯքʿлԭ 36 ࡈψ
whom Babalola has mentored. “Oh, my good- ing of the people of a country, beyond the
ing impact, on Rotary, on the world.
bership,” says Virginia Major, a past district ٙɓࡈ਋Ⴣٟਜ઼ਗޥߴટ၇ ቃٙᆠઋϘʊ൴൳Їڢݲ˸̮
governor from Port Harcourt and one of many headlines. He himself will be creating last- ٙήਜf™
ݺਗf͟׵຅͍ࣛ࠽τΌҡ
ʘʕٙɓࡈdԨၾ຅ήִٙ݁
whom Babalola has mentored. “Oh, my good- ing impact, on Rotary, on the world.
14 臺灣扶輪 2026.7
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