By Babatunde Ayedoju
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Truthfulness, fairness, goodwill and communal benefits, know as four way test of the Rotary Club, if upheld, are capable of strengthening the justice system of any society.
Those were the words of Mr. Adesina Adegbite while delivering keynote address at the investiture of Mrs. Omolola Fadumiye as second president said first female president of Rotary Club of Akure Prestige in Akure on Saturday.
Adegbite who spoke on “Law as a tool for promoting Rotary Club’s four way test” disclosed to his audience that the law is about justice and every law abiding citizen must uphold truth, fairness, goodwill or friendship and communal benefits at all times, adding that the justice system can only be upheld if everyone says the truth with a mind of fairness.
Warning his fellow Rotarians that every act of unfairness breaches the club’s protocol, the guest speaker admonished them to continue looking for ways of giving back to the society, bearing in mind the organisation’s ethics also known as the four way test.
Another speaker, Dr Sunday Sajo, who spoke about priotising mental health as a key component of overall health, described mental health condition as a leading cause of death worldwide, stressing that early treatment is the best way to handle it.
He equally advised that everybody should invest in helping to promote mental health as government cannot do it alone.
Chairman of the occasion, Dr Waheed Lawal, who was represented by Rotarian Olayade Olasunkami, congratulated the new president and other board members who were inaugurated with her, while commending them for various humanitarian services that the club had been rendering to the society, in line with its objectives.
Royal father of the day and Olowo of Owo, Oba Gbadegesin Ogunoye thanked the club for inducting him as an honourary member.
He assured that he would be ready to support the club, even as he added that his doors would always be open to the members.
Highlights of the occasion were the decoration of the new president and board members, presentation of a brand new wheel chair to Mr Bunmi Amosun who is physically challenged, fundraising for the club’s project, which is a proposed office complex, alongside male and female ward for the Ondo State Psychiatric Hospital, Akure, presentation of awards to distinguished members and induction of new members, including the Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye III who was inducted as an honourary member.
In her acceptance speech, the new president, Rotarian Fadumiye, described her emergence as an honour, while thanking members for the confidence reposed in her. While reminding her fellow Rotarians of their duty to make a positive difference in the society, she charged them to walk the talk by helping to raise awareness about mental health.
