A former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Ogun State, Adijat Adeleye, has emerged the 45th President of the Rotary Club of Abeokuta, District 9110.
Adeleye emerged President after the expiration of Rtn. Sewanu Bankole’s tenure.
Speaking at the handing – over ceremony, held at the Rotary Vocational House, Abeokuta, the state capital, Adeleye said her emergence was another renewed call to selfless service targeted at creating hope in the World.
She assured that she would build on the legacies of the club’s founding fathers through impactful projects in the “2023-2024 Hope Year”.
Her words: “I feel so honoured to have been inducted as the 45th President of this noble club, it is a clear priviledge for someone of my age to have taken over the leadership of managing a world-class service-oriented club where many elders and heros have invested so much; surmount challenges and harness the potentials of many to create hope for the common man through selfless service.
“Dear members and esteemed friends, for this new leadership that is taking up duty today according to the Rotary doctrine, be rest assured that we are poised to playing exemplary role in service to humanity, re-writing the narratives and repositioning the club to take her rightful position in District 911. All of these can only be possible with your kind support.
“We will still have a larger gathering of likeminds, partners and dignitaries at the investiture ceremony scheduled to hold at the Olusegunz Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Oke Mosan, Abeokuta on July 23, 2023 and we are optimistic that we will definitely record impactful projects that will be impactful to the common man even after our tenure of office”.
Earlier, Bankole while commending the support of the members and elders of the club, attributed the progress recorded in the outgone year to the uncommon understanding and corporation amongst all.
The fellowship, which had an American Auction, induction of three new members, saw to the recognition of the selfless service and award presentations to Rotn. Dayo Niyi-Idowu, Rtn Edward Alo, Rtn. Adeoti Kazeem, Prof. Akinola Alabi, Rtn Kayode Oladipo, Rtn Muyiwa Fadairo, Rtn. Mojeed Dauda, Rtn Omolade Akinola, Rtn. Aduragbemi Ogundipe, Rtn. Akinrenfon Akinremilekun, Rtn. Oluwafunmilayo Obalade.
In attendance at the event were Assistant District Governors, District 911, Past and Imaginative Presidents, Rotary Club of Abeokuta, Rotary Club of Laderin and Elega amongst others.
ABDRIDGED PROFILE OF HON. ADIJAT ADELEYE-OLADAPO
Alluring Amazon- Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye, a first child was born into a very humble but disciplined family of Pa and Madam Adeleye both of Egba extraction in Abeokuta, Ogun State, almost five decades ago.
The quintessential, humility personified lass commenced her academic sojourn at the Methodist Primary School, Tabon-Tabon , Agege, Lagos state, where she obtained her first school leaving certificate. She proceeded to Lagos Baptist Secondary School, Orile Agege for her secondary education and completed it at Iju Grammar School, Iju Station, both in Lagos State.
Budding Adijat, who till date believes in self-sufficiency, started fending for herself at a very tender age, a situation which affected the pace of her education, but despite her very humble upbringing which should have weakened her morale to acquire more formal education, she acquired a Diploma in Yoruba Linguistic from the prestigious University of Lagos (UNILAG) in 1998.
Perceiving better days ahead, she forged ahead to acquire more formal knowledge in Accounting at the Institute of Chartered Management Accountancy, where she is currently an Associate Member, the unrelenting quest took another facet as she again found her way to broaden her knowledge when she bagged a Post Graduate Diploma from the State-owned Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye.
She went through life experiences cum ‘street mentoring’ under elderly tutelage where she acquired native intelligence and street senses, this has often set her miles ahead amidst her peers over the years.
A cursory look at her political career revealed that the fearless Adijat’s entry into politics was accidental as she started from the lowest ebb of partisan politics. She started active politics with the defunct UNCP, later moved to the Alliance for Democracy (AD) where she held the position of Women Leader in her Ward in 2002. She later joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2003. She cut her tooth first as a Consultant to the Chairman on Community Development Matters, Ifo Local Government for over a period of two years spanning from 2004 to 2006.
Fate, faith, and destiny moved her to public office, at various times and at different levels. The immediate past Honourable Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Ogun State, appointed in August, 2022 was formally a Special Adviser to the Governor of Ogun State on Women Affairs until August 2022, when she got the higher call to duty. Before then, specifically between June 2007 and June 2015, the ‘iron-lady’ creatively navigated the male-dominated State Legislative Arm with indelible footprints as a two-term member holding strategic committees with landslide feats and accolades; thereafter which she was appointed as Senior Legislative Aide to the Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Yusuf Lasun, between June 2015 to May 2019.
The recipient of confetti of awards and laurels from International, Government, professional bodies, religious organisations, Civil and Liberty Organisations, is an associate member of the Institute of Chartered Management Accountants (ICMA), and an active member of social clubs including the prestigious Abeokuta Sports Club (Moonlight/ Tennis/ Draught/Almond Sections), National Council of Women Society, Royalty Club of Egbaland, Honorary Member, Ikeja Club. She has served in the Clubs’ high-ranking committees with delightful facilitation of projects to them all at various times.
Rotn. Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye, a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary International, Member of Paul Harris Society, a Rotary Benefactor, energetic member of the Polio Plus Society, member, Women in Rotary, is the Asiwaju Obinrin of Agbado Land in Ifo, Yeyeluwa of Iselu Land and the Yeye Oge of Igede Ekiti, Ekiti State.
Blessed with two lovely daughters, the widely-travelled avid reader finds delight in travelling and networking.
