A seasoned journalist, Rotarian (Mrs.) Joy Mbachi, has been handed over the gavel as the 8th President, Rotary Club International (RC Awka Metropolis) District 9142.

Mbachi, who works with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), is the first female President of RC Awka metropolis, and would be at the helm of affairs of the club for one year.

The new President, in her acceptance speech, pledged to remain a source of inspiration to the club and humanity throughout her one year service year whose theme is incidentally, Be the Inspiration.

Mbachi, while vowing to champion the course of children and women, said, “We will visit the motherless babies home to give the motherless hopes. We will go to streets to preach sanity and bring back our young girls straying about.

“We will sensitise the pupils and the students across schools on basic personal and environmental hygiene. We will also carry on community-based sensitisation campaign on cervical cancer, free medical outreach and others.”

She further entreats women to join the rotary club international, assuring that “It is a good platform for every woman who wishes to impact lives positively. If you join it and duly follow its four-way test, it will make you greater person and a home builder.”

Also speaking, the Rotary Assistant Governor of Zone 9, Dr Sabs Anaekwe, advised the club on teamwork, which he claimed would help them to improve on charity and humanitarian services rotary club was known for.

A visiting Rotarian President of Awka Smithland, Mr Tochi Omalu, enjoined the Rotarians of Awka Metropolis to join hand with the new president in achieving the goals of Rotary this year.

He said that rotary touches all aspect of lives ranging from fight against polio, illiteracy, to promoting healthy living and safe environment and community development.

Earlier, the former President of the club, Mr Benjamin Dibor, while handing over the tool of leadership of the club to Mbachi charged her to carry the goals of rotary beyond where he did.

He said that the year theme, “Be the Inspiration”, was apt and charged Rotarians to truly inspire humanity by its positive works and assured the 8th president of his support.

Dibor in his farewell message enumerated his achievements to include free medical outreach, various charity works at motherless babies homes, prison visits, among others, and prayed that the year be the inspiration will do more by inspiring people around their environment

He disclosed that his tenure ended 30th June, 2018, but promised to work with the new sheriff to better the rotary desired goals throughout the one year service which spanned through July 1st 2018 to June 30, 2019.

Some members of the club who witnessed the ceremony, namely, Mr Felix Akosa, Prof Raphael Okigbo, Chief Henry Onuorah, Bar. Edochie Anekwe, Dr Dennis Ekemezie, Mr Chiadi Uche among others reassured the new president of their support.

Mr Rapuluchukwu Nnaekwue the Inspiration Secretary promised to work in harmony with the president so that the club would attain its goal of touching humanity positively.

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