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Second Woman Assumes Presidency of Rotary International

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One-year term will prioritize adapting to changing times and advancing peace

 

EVANSTON, Ill., 25 June, 2024 — Stephanie Urchick, member of the Rotary Club of McMurray, PA, will become the second woman to take office as president of Rotary International on 1 July 2024.

During her one-year term, Urchick will lead the 119-year-old membership service organization in adapting for future success as Rotary’s 1.4 million members around the world develop and implement sustainable, community-driven projects that fight disease, promote peace, provide clean water, support education, save mothers and children, grow local economies, and protect the environment. More than US$5.5 billion has been awarded through The Rotary Foundation—Rotary’s charitable arm that helps clubs work together to perform meaningful, impactful service—to support these initiatives over the last 100 years.

In order to ensure that Rotary membership is a compelling option for those who have a heart for service and fellowship, Urchick is urging clubs to assess their strengths and areas for improvement while also encouraging them to embrace different meeting formats and membership styles as they work to mirror the communities in which they exist in terms of gender, age, culture, socioeconomic status, and more.

“Embracing different viewpoints and creating peaceful, welcoming, and inclusive societies is at the heart of Rotary’s work,” said Urchick. “As president, I will work with clubs to prioritize advancing peace by helping to create the conditions for stable and resilient societies in which people can thrive.”

As one of the world’s largest membership service organizations, Rotary has made peacebuilding the cornerstone of its global mission.   From carrying out service projects to supporting future leaders through youth programs and scholarships, Rotary is taking action to address the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, discrimination, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources.

Through academic training, practice and global networking, Rotary is helping professionals become effective catalysts for peace. Rotary partners with leading universities around the world to host Rotary Peace Centers that empower, educate, and increase the capacity of peacebuilders. Each year, Rotary awards 50 fully funded fellowships for master’s degrees and up to 80 fully funded fellowships for certificate studies to dedicated peace and development leaders from communities around the world.

Since 2002, the peace centers program has prepared more than 1,800 peace fellows working in more than 140 countries to create a more peaceful world.

To build on this momentum, Urchick will host a peace conference at the launch of Rotary’s newest Peace Center in partnership with Bahçeşehir University, in Istanbul, Turkey in February 2025.

As president, Urchick will also oversee Rotary’s top goal of eradicating polio. Alongside its Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners, Rotary has achieved a 99.9% reduction in polio cases, and contributed more than US$2.7 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect 3 billion children from this paralyzing disease.

About Stephanie Urchick 

Urchick holds a doctorate in leadership studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. A Rotary member since 1991, Stephanie has served Rotary in many roles and capacities. Her service includes building a primary school in Vietnam; installing water filters in the Dominican Republic; mentoring new Rotary members in Ukraine; coordinating a Rotary Foundation grant project in Poland; and leading efforts to formulate and adopt Rotary’s Action Plan, a strategic road map that will help bring even more people together to create lasting and positive change in an evolving world.

About Rotary

Rotary unites a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges and creating lasting change. Rotary connects 1.4 million people of action from more than 46,000 Rotary clubs in almost every country in the world. Their service improves lives both locally and internationally, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit Rotary.org.

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18-storey Ibom Towers ready in 24 months – AKSG

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…SANWO-OLU, ATTAH, OBA EULOGISE PROJECT

As measures towards economic diversification, Akwa Ibom State Government has flagged off an 18-storey Ibom Towers, today, in Lagos with a promise that the project will be completed in 24 months.

The groundbreaking ceremony was performed by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo- Olu, to the admiration of former Akwa Ibom Governors, Udom Emmanuel and Obong Victor Attah, among eminent Nigerians.

The project expected to drive substantial revenue and GDP growth for both states, providing much-needed economic diversification amid Nigeria’s current financial challenges.

Governor Umo Eno explained that the project was meant to generate income and create job opportunities for the State.

“Anytime leaders invest in forward-looking projects like this, there are challenges,but a leader must look into the future.”

“With Ibom Towers, both Akwa Ibom and Lagos are demonstrating how unity and vision can drive prosperity, marking a new era of economic innovation amid national economic downturn”.

He further expressed gratitude for the partnership and his ties to Lagos, underscoring that the project represents the power of bipartisanship.

“This is the essence of bipartisanship; it should not be coloured by political affiliations,” he noted.

Governor Eno expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who was once the Governor of Lagos State for his significant contributions to the development of Lagos, emphasising the importance of patience during this period of reforms in Nigeria.

“These changes may be painstaking, but they will bear fruit,” he assured.

Located in the heart of Victoria Island, Ibom Towers will serve as an iconic structure aimed at boosting investments and economic ties, directly benefiting Lagos and Akwa Ibom.

Governor Sanwo-Olu welcomed the development, highlighting Lagos’ longstanding role as Nigeria’s centre for commerce.

He remarked, “I look forward to seeing this relationship deepen, and who knows, maybe I’ll also invest in an oil well in Akwa Ibom,” adding a light-hearted touch that underscored the states’ shared economic aspirations.

The Managing Director of the Akwa Ibom Investment Corporation (AKICORP),Imo-Abasi Jacob, provided a detailed overview of Ibom Towers, describing it as a premium project designed to attract urban professionals.

“Featuring upscale apartments, gyms, pools, and smart building technology, the tower will serve as both a luxury residence and a revenue generator, with income from property leases and tourism expected to enhance GDP growth for both states”, Pastor Jacob said.

In their separate goodwill messages, leaders from both states celebrated the impact of Ibom Towers on revenue and employment.

The Oniru of Iruland, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, expressed satisfaction in the project, assuring his support and seeing it as a legacy of Lagos-Akwa Ibom cooperation.

Similarly, His Eminence, Ntenyin Solomon Etuk, President General, Akwa Ibom State Traditional Rulers Council, stressed the value of the initiative in uplifting Akwa Ibom’s profile internationally and encouraged the involvement of young engineers from the state to gain hands-on experience.

The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, pledged legislative support, asserting that landmark projects like Ibom Towers elevate Akwa Ibom’s standing nationally.

Former Governor, Obong Victor Attah commended the achievement, viewing it as the realisation of a vision to make Akwa Ibom a key player in real estate and economic growth. “This project represents the fulfillment of long-held aspirations for our state’s prosperity,” he said.

The Secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah who said the tone for the event, said the State has been blessed with good leaders, adding that Governor Eno is expanding on the legacies of his predecessors.

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Bandits Kill Four Farmers in Isa Local Government Area

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Suspected bandits have reportedly killed four farmers in the Isa Local Government Area of Sokoto State, with several others still unaccounted for.

The incident occurred at Maridi village around 8 a.m. on Monday, as confirmed by local resident Surajo Isa. He stated that the farmers were ambushed while en route to their fields. “The bandits laid in wait for them, slaughtering four and abducting another four. Some individuals are still missing, and we do not know if they fled into the bush or were also kidnapped,” Isa explained.

He added that two of the deceased farmers were buried the same morning, with preparations underway for the burial of the remaining two. Isa also recounted a previous attack, in which bandits shot two community members—a father and son—last week. The son died instantly, while the father is currently recovering in the hospital.

Alhaji Sharifu Kamarawa, the chairman of the Isa Local Government Area, confirmed the attack to reporters.

When approached for comment, ASP Ahmad Rufa’i, spokesman for the Sokoto Police Command, stated that he had not yet been briefed on the incident but promised to reach out to the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area. However, no further updates were provided by the time of this report.

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Economy

Akwa Ibom State Launches ‘Ibom Utility’ Power Distribution Company Under New Electricity Act

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In a strategic move following the new Electricity Act 2023, Akwa Ibom State has established its own power distribution company, named Ibom Utility.

This company is mandated to purchase and distribute electricity throughout the state.

This development comes on the heels of Enugu State’s recent establishment of a similar distribution company, marking a significant shift in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) as it transitions into a new market regime focused on bilateral trading and cost-reflective tariffs.

According to a senior source at Ibom Power, one of Nigeria’s first Independent Power Plants (IPPs), the establishment of Ibom Utility will allow it to compete directly with the Port Harcourt Distribution Company (PHDC), which currently serves Akwa Ibom as well as Rivers, Cross River, and Bayelsa states.

“The new Electricity Act has given us the opportunity to sell our power to other distribution companies. One of the challenges we face is that the existing distribution company often does not take sufficient load. With the establishment of Ibom Utility, if PHDC fails to meet its obligations, our state company can step in to manage the load,” the source explained.

Additionally, the new Electricity Act has positioned Ibom Power to engage in bilateral agreements with nearby distribution companies, including Edo, Ibadan, and Eko, to offtake its available generation capacity of approximately 150 megawatts. This strategic move aims to enhance electricity distribution and reliability in Akwa Ibom State.

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