HISTORY OF ROTARY IN NIGERIA AND THE FORMATION OF DISTRICT 9125

Nigeria--Rotary International District 9125 administratively serves 1,511 Rotarians in 84 Rotary clubs in Nigeria. Some Historical Highlights District 9125 is one of the three Rotary International Districts in Nigeria. The District is one of the outcomes of the merger between two former Rotary International District 9120 and 9130 following a decision by the Rotary International Board in their February 2006 meeting when they requested the two former Districts to work out the modalities to actualize the merger.


District 9125 occupies about 90% of the land mass of Nigeria. Out of the estimated 140 million people in Nigeria, about 97 million people are District 9125. Rotary Club of Kano, the first Rotary Club of the past Rotary International President and past Chairman, Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees of Rotary International, Rotarian Jonathan B. Majiyagbe (SAN, OFR). The current strength of the District membership is 1,511 Rotarians.

Members of Distinction

Our membership is 2019 with 91 clubs Membership Goal- We have Project 1+1, we want to double in membership Public Relations: 70% of all Clubs would have a Facebook page, Promote 4 Way Test through signage and billboards, 50% of Clubs to receive the Zone 20a Public Image award


Rotary eventually found its way into Nigeria in 1961 when the first Rotary club was chartered in Kano on the 28th April 1961 in the 56th year of Rotary.
Before then the first Rotary club in Africa had been established in 1921, 40 years ahead of Nigeria while the first Rotary club in West Africa was also established in Dakar, Senegal in 1939 about 22 years before Nigeria. Nigeria indeed was the 32nd nation to receive Rotary in Africa! The relevance of this emphasis on the late establishment of Rotary in Nigerian will be taken up later but suffice to say meanwhile that the later spread and growth in Nigeria more than adequately compensated for this late start.
After the Rotary club in Kano, the Rotary club of Lagos was chartered on 30th May 1961 and the Rotary club of Ibadan on 24th November 1961. By 1973, the number of clubs in Nigeria were large enough for grouping with other clubs outside Nigeria to form the new Rotary International District 210 with Rotarian Francois Amorin of the Rotary club of Cotonou – Benin Republic as the first District Governor.
In 1972/73, Nigeria produced her first District Governor for District 210 when Rotarian Anofi Guobadia of the Rotary club of Ikeja came into office. The District was later renamed 910. During the period 1973 to 1981, Rotarians from about 14 countries in West Africa were grouped into one District. The effect of Rotary was felt by the society through its various laudable projects and activities.
Nigeria produced her second District Governor in 1980/81 when Rotarian John Majiyagbe of the Rotary club of Kano took charge of the much bigger District. This encouraged RI to consider redistricting with the creation of the Rotary District 911 comprising all clubs throughout Nigeria in 1982 – 83 Rotary year.
The first District Governor of the newly created All Nigerian District 911 was Rotarian Past District Governor Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi. In that year (1982 – 83) PDG Juli as he is fondly called crises-crossed Nigeria several times doing some 26000 kilometers by air, by land and over water to spread the message of Rotary with the support of well chosen, motivated, committed and coordinated team of District officers.
PDG Juli and his team created a new dawn for Rotary in Nigeria with establishment of 31 new clubs, thus having a growth of about 100% in one Rotary year! A feat that won the commendation and salutation of Rotary International as the best ever from any District in the Rotary world at that time.
This growth encouraged the redistricting of the District 911 to form two Districts for Nigeria. PDG Bob Ogbuagu took over form PDG Juli and sustained the tempo with great charms and promotions, typical of a PR Guru and veteran that he is.
With the redistricting exercise, PDG Babs became the third District Governor of District 911 comprising six states and the FCT i.e. Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Kwara, Sokoto and FCT.
The clubs in the remaining part of Nigeria went with District 912. Thus it was less cumbersome to manage and consolidate the growth already achieved which PDG Babs Ajayi did effectively and sustained as well. With sustained growth, PDG Bayo Adetunji became District Governor in 1985/86 as the 4th Governor of the District before another redistricting exercise took place and like PDG Bob Ogbuagu he had to belong to the newly created District after serving as Governor of District 911.
By the first July 1986, Nigeria has started the Rotary year with 4 Districts namely District 911, 912, 913 and 914. (The prefix ‘0’ was later added to them all).
District 9120 now comprises 21 clubs spread across the eight Northern states of Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Kano, Nassarwa and Plateau.
District 9120 perhaps covers the largest geographical area in Nigeria. It stretches from the Guinea Savannah of the North Central state of Benue along the Benue and Niger Rivers through the wooded grasslands of Bauchi to the Sahel Savannah of the extreme Northern state of Borno on the Lake Chad basin.
During the last 20 years, District 9130 changed only with the world-wide addition of the last "0" from 913.
Now, District 9130 is made up of 28 clubs spread across 7 states including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, four South-Western states of Ondo, Osun and Oyo; the North-Central states of Kogi and Kwara.
District 9130 of Rotary International has the unique geographical feature of being the only Rotary District that embraces both pre-independence Southern and Northern Nigeria.
Formation of District 9125
District 9125 Nigeria is one of the three Rotary International Districts in Nigeria covering FCT and 23 out of the 36 States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The other two being District 9110 and District 9140.
The District is the outcome of the merger between two former Rotary International Districts 9120 and 9130 following a decision by the Rotary International Board in their February 2006 meeting when they requested the two former Districts to work out the modalities to actualize the merger.
D9125 occupies about 90% of the land mass of Nigeria.
Out of the estimated 140 million people in Nigeria, about 97 million people are in District 9125.

District Governors

2015-2016: Dr. Mike Omotosho,

Be a gift to the world with Governor Dr. Mike Omotosho RC Abuja Metro from July 1 to June 30. Dr. Mike Omotosho is planning to be the gift to the world at multicultural events throughout the year and by expanding the membership of the district.

District Goals for 2015-16 are

1. Foundation – 100% of clubs having every member giving something to the Rotary Foundation (EREY) and one new benefactor from each club (A benefactor leaves $1000 to the Rotary Foundation in their will.)

2. Membership – Net of 48 new members and every club having an updated Fireside Chat (proposed member orientation)

3. Youth Services – New Interact and Rotaract clubs, RYLA and Youth Exchange participation

4. Service Projects – Every club to have a Fantastic Rotary Day

5. Public Relations – Ten clubs to receive the Zone xx Public Image citation

6. Administration – Every club to have a newsletter and 50% of clubs to receive the Presidential Citation

Governors of 9125	1980-81: Jonathan B.Majiyagbe	1986-87: Solomon 0. Abe	1986-87: Kola Olafimihan	1987-88: Adedoyin Adelekun	1987-88: J.A.J Ajoge
1988-89: Ayo Ogunlade	1988-89: Simon Peter Gusah	1989-90: Olatunde Augustus Oni	1989-90: Williams O. Adjekungele	1990-91: Stephen Churchill Kitchener	1990-91: Sam Oloruntoba
1991-92: Babatune Conde	1991-92: Abba Kyari	1992-93: Jonathan A. Olubi	1992-93: Raymond Zard	1993-94: Akinwande A. Akintola	1994-95: Emmanuel Adedolapo Lufadeju
1994-95: Alex Sokan	1995-96: Abdurrahman Olatunji Funsh	1995-96: Yahaya Bamidele	1996-97: Emiola Adesina	1996-97: Mamman Mike Osuman	1997-98: Joseph Olasupo Toyosi David
1997-98: George Taylor	1998-99: Joshua Haasan	1998-99: Joachim Opeyemi Olajide	1999-2000: Moses A.T Gbande	1999-2000: Sam Adekore	2000-01: Chika Dada Chiejina
2000-01: Lemmy O. Ijioma	2001-02: Kolawole Ajao Owoka	2001-02: Emmanuel Olafemi Oladimeji	2002-03: Robert Bonuola Kolesho	2002-03: Festus Akpati	2003-04: Mohammed Yamah
2003-04: Gbadebo Faleye	2004-05: Abiodun Z. Odeleye	2004-05: Sunny Joe Agba	2005-06: Gregory U.Chido Amajuoyi	2005-06: Timothy Olurotimi Tayo	2006-07: Vidal Ndubuisi Wachuku
2006-07: David Alkalawa Garnvwa	2007-08: Saliu Osifuemhe Ahmed	2007-08: Adebayo A. Oni	2008-09: Bamidele O. Samson	2008-09: King A. Nelson Esievo	2009-10: Kazeem Mustapha
2010-11: Obafunso Ogunkeye	2011-12: Lawrence Okwor	2012-13: Felix Obadan	2013-14:Felix Aninze	2014-15: Mogbeyi Tolu Omatsola	2015-16: Dr Mike Omotosho
2016-17: Clement Adebisi Adegoke

Contact and Administrative Information

 Tel: +234 8030402033
+234 8087770557
District Governor's Office Address:
Rotary Suit.
SHI House 38 Asheik Jarma Street Jabi District,
Abuja, Nigeria

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