Encomium
The installation of Rotarian (Arc) Tony Eigbokhan as the 19th President, Rotary Club of Victoria Garden City, Ajah, Lagos, held on Saturday, September 5, 2015, at Le Real Hotel and Event Centre, Ajah, Lagos.
The well-attended event attracted dignitaries from all walks of life.
In this interview with ENCOMIUM Weekly, Tony Eigbokhan expressed gratitude to the club as he unveiled his roadmap and more.
How do you feel today?
I feel elated and excited to have been given the opportunity to be of service to the society. This is an ample opportunity to pay back for what the society gave me. This is an opportunity to do better than what my predecessors did. I feel good about it.
Now that you’re in office, what would you do differently from your predecessors?
What I am going to do differently from my predecessors is to give every Rotarian in District 9110 that sense of responsibility.
I will supervise every project being executed. I will also harness the experience I have drawn from my predecessors. The welfare and well-being of our members will be uppermost in my mind.
How prepared are you for the challenges ahead?
I am adequately prepared by the special grace of God. I knew about my presidency about 18 months ago and I have attended over 10 training organized by the District. I have attended trainings in the USA, Canada, Germany, Portugal including local Rotary club activities. I have equally equipped myself.
How many projects do you have?
They are numerous.
How do you intend to cover all the projects in just one year which is the life span of your tenure?
Rome was not built in a day. Rotary Club is a going concern. If I start a project and couldn’t complete it, my successor would continue where I stopped and so on until the project is completed. So, we don’t put time frame on our projects and no limitation. Our tenure is just one year.
Which of the projects is so close to your heart?
The project that is so close to my heart is the renovation of classrooms of Sanyatedo Primary School, Ajah, Lagos.
When I visited the school, I saw pupils sitting very close to the blackboard, the classroom had no roof and doors with broken walls.
Are beneficiaries appreciative of your kind gestures and how do you maintain your projects?
When Rotary executes a project, we bring in our maintenance culture called Rotary Community Maintenance Corps. Members of the corps are teachers in the school and members of the community. We also consider sustainability factor.
What is your philosophy of life?
My philosophy of life is never deprive others of what you personally enjoy, principle of integrity, my yes is my yes and my no is my no. These are the principles that took me to where I am today.
What would you say life has taught you?
One of the greatest lessons life has taught me is patience and perseverance.
