Rotary Club of Ikoyi Metro empowerment project donates tools worth N15m to 64 Lagos artisans, helping to reduce poverty and strengthen livelihoods.
Rotary Club of Ikoyi Metro empowerment initiative has brought new hope to Lagos communities as members of the club gathered on Saturday, 1 November 2025, to support semi-skilled residents with vital working tools and equipment.
The landmark event, themed Community Economic Development (Empowerment) Programme, took place at St. Gregory’s Girls Primary School, Ikoyi, and aligns with Rotary International’s mission of promoting economic growth, social resilience, and inclusive development.
Over 64 beneficiaries drawn from a pool of more than 100 applicants received professional equipment valued at N15 million.
The beneficiaries included tailors, barbers, hairdressers, bakers, shoemakers, and welders; all selected through a rigorous process designed to ensure transparency and genuine need.
The event attracted notable guests, including the District Governor-Elect, Rotarian Layi Abidoye; the District Rotaract Representative, Atitebi Ismail Abiodun; and the Immediate Past DRR, Adekeye Fathia, alongside several district leaders and club members.
According to the Immediate Past President of the club, Rotarian Gbolahan Adeyinka, the project was first conceived during the 2024/25 Rotary year but was expanded this year to accommodate more participants.
“This initiative is one of Rotary’s key areas of focus,” he said.
“We couldn’t execute it last year due to time constraints, but we’re glad to have scaled it up this time to reach more people.”
In his remarks, the club’s United President, Rotarian Alex Chukwu, explained that the Rotary Club of Ikoyi Metro chose to mark the month with practical empowerment rather than lectures.
“We decided to invest directly in people. By equipping them with tools, we’re reducing poverty, taking idle hands off the streets, and creating a ripple effect in the community,” he said.
Chukwu added that the club also encouraged beneficiaries interested in professional growth to join the Rotaract Club that is currently being chartered.
Rotarian Abidoye praised the club for its commitment to meaningful service.
“Ikoyi Metro has consistently been a shining example within Rotary. Their projects are audacious and life-transforming, and this empowerment drive proves once again why they’re the pride of our district,” he stated.
Also read: RC Ikoyi Metro impacts inmates lives positively, provides legal supports
For more than two decades, the Rotary Club of Ikoyi Metro has sustained a legacy of impactful service, from correctional centre empowerment projects to student scholarships and a N100 million general hospital renovation.
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