Olayinka H. Babalola Calls on Rotary Members to Create Lasting Impact Through Inclusion and Action

Rotary International President-elect Olayinka H. Babalola has urged Rotary members worldwide to focus on creating lasting impact by fostering inclusive clubs, delivering meaningful projects, and allowing Rotary service to transform them personally. His message was delivered during Rotary’s International Assembly held on January 12 in Orlando, Florida.

Addressing district leaders from around the world, Babalola reflected on how Rotary is not only about changing communities but also about shaping individuals. He emphasized that while Rotary often speaks about global goals such as eradicating polio and promoting peace, it is equally important to recognize how Rotary transforms its members from within.

Babalola, a member of the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi in Nigeria, shared personal reflections from his early years in Rotaract. He explained that joining as a teenager expanded his worldview beyond what he described as a limited and privileged outlook. Witnessing his club’s work in teaching literacy and empowering communities helped him understand the deeper purpose of service.

According to Babalola, change alone is not enough. He stressed that real success lies in impact, which continues long after a project ends. He highlighted Rotary initiatives that have delivered sustainable results, including early childhood education programs in Knysna, South Africa, where women were empowered to establish and manage education centers that will serve generations to come.

He also pointed to the Together for Healthy Families initiative in Nigeria, which received a $2 million Rotary Programs of Scale grant in 2022. The project significantly improved access to prenatal care, reduced maternal and neonatal mortality rates, and strengthened community trust in healthcare systems. Babalola noted that such efforts demonstrate how Rotary projects can reshape lives for decades.

A key part of his address focused on inclusion and hospitality within Rotary clubs. Babalola recalled a discouraging experience from his youth when he was made to feel unwelcome while seeking to join a Rotary club. Although progress has been made since then, he cautioned that some clubs still fail to fully embrace newcomers, young people, and those with diverse perspectives.

He urged Rotary members to reflect on how their behavior and attitudes can influence whether someone feels inspired to join or discouraged from continuing their Rotary journey. According to him, every interaction at a meeting or service project carries the potential to shape a person’s lifelong connection with Rotary.

Babalola also encouraged Rotary leaders to push beyond past achievements. He called on districts to examine previous successes in fundraising, membership growth, and service delivery, and then challenge themselves to exceed those benchmarks.

Concluding his address, Babalola emphasized that transformation begins at the individual level. By changing themselves, Rotary members can strengthen their clubs, uplift their districts, and ultimately create lasting impact in communities across the globe.