Opinion
From Proximity to Purpose: How RC Ikeja Township’s “We Full Ground” Spirit Took Root
By Victor Ojelabi
RC Ikeja Township charter marks a milestone as new Rotary club launches projects and service initiatives in Alimosho, Lagos state.
As the president-elect of Rotary Club of Ikeja Township in District 9110, founding this club in the vibrant heart of Lagos has been a journey of exhilaration and challenge.
Also read: Rotary Club of Ikeja Township Celebrates Charter
I’m a Rotarian who currently serves as secretary for District 9112’s Public Image Committee and board of some other committees at the district level, I know the comfort of an established club’s rhythm. You show up, and things work.
But as a business owner and media relations practitioner of many years, I know there’s a fire in building something new, something that pulses with your community’s spirit.
That’s what drove me to start this club, and I’m all in, no looking back.
The spark came from a simple issue: distance.
My former club, Rotary Club of Ikeja Alausa, was too far a trek. And I wasn’t alone.
Rtn. Ariike Olukayode Elegbede, then Membership Committee chair whilst I led Public Image, shared the same frustration.
Over conversations about our daily grind, we envisaged a club closer to home in Alimosho.
Proximity was the seed, but the dream grew into a Rotary hub rooted in our community’s soul.
Ariike stepped up as charter president, her resolve unwavering, and I’ve matched her energy as president-elect, determined to make our club not just exist but shine.
Starting a Rotary club isn’t a casual choice.
It’s a grind, recruiting prospects, holding heartfelt talks to win their trust, and showing them why Rotary’s mission is worth their time and investment.
The process is deliberate, gathering enough committed souls for Rotary International’s recognition whilst keeping the momentum alive. Ariike and I leaned into that work, but we had a guide.
Our Club Adviser, PP. Dr. Olubunkola Balogun-Soile, was our beacon. Her mentorship steadied us through uncharted waters.
Thanks to her guidance, we have held two physical meetings and several others online.
At our first in-person gathering, buzzing with the thrill of new beginnings, we found our voice. We chose “We Full Ground” as our slogan, an Alimosho phrase that means full commitment, full presence, no half-measures in service or fellowship. It’s more than words; it’s who we are.
Even as a provisional club, awaiting our charter certificate, we’ve hit the ground running.
We partnered with a sister club to visit a local orphanage, spending time with children, sharing gifts, and filling the air with laughter.
Those moments, seeing a child’s face light up over a gift, are what Rotary’s about, a small but real step against isolation and need.
More projects, like community drives and skill workshops, are in the works, but we’re pacing ourselves until the charter arrives. The anticipation fuels our focus.
Growth isn’t just projects; it’s people.
Membership is our lifeblood, and we’re relentless about it. Our regular Saturday roadwalks are where the magic happens.
Picture us in Rotary T-shirts, striding through our community, chatting with neighbours, swapping stories, and spreading Rotary’s mission. There’s hardly a walk without winning a member for RC Ikeja Township. Each new face is a win, a new brother or sister in service.
Reflecting on this journey, I see the unsung effort it takes. Building a new Rotary is both exciting and challenging.
Charter presidents like Ariike deserve every accolade for steering clubs past those critical first five years; the grind is real, and often overlooked.
But I’m not here for praise; I’m here for the work. With Ariike, Dr. Balogun-Soile, and our growing crew, we’re planting roots to shade generations.
This club, born from a need for proximity, has become my purpose.
“We Full Ground” isn’t just our slogan; it’s our promise.
Also read: Rotary Club of Ikeja Township Celebrates Charter
In Alimosho’s relentless flow, we’re building a legacy, one roadwalk, one orphanage visit, one inspired recruit at a time.
A Lagos innovation advisor questions Nigeria’s readiness for the AI revolution, urging proactive building over passive consumption to avoid mass job displacement
Artificial Intelligence, the new magic word! Investors are funding it. Universities are teaching it. Even my WhatsApp uncle is forwarding AI-generated motivational quotes. In fact, it’s what the boys and I are always talking about over beer.
We’re all caught in the hype — and honestly, it’s exciting. But as the drums of this AI revolution beat louder, I find myself asking a different question:
Is Nigeria moving with it — or sleepwalking into an unfamiliar future?
Beyond the Hype: The Real Questions?
As someone standing in the middle of Nigeria’s innovation space, I’ve learned that real progress doesn’t just come from excitement. It comes from asking the harder questions — the ones that make us uncomfortable before they make us better.
Because beneath all the celebration, I keep wondering: What does this AI revolution really mean for the average Lagos resident? Good or bad? Or… are we even asking the right question?
Let’s face it: AI is power. And like any form of power, it can either empower or marginalize — depending on who wields it, and why.
Already, AI can write better poems than me, paint portraits, produce mad afro beats music, generate movie scripts, Create deep fake videos, build websites and apps.
Soon, AI “agents” will be able to run businesses, book flights, negotiate deals, order food — basically run your daily life.
For the global economy, that’s progress.
But for a country like Nigeria — where millions of talented youths hustle, grind, and create every single day — I have to ask: Where does this leave us?
We are a nation of creative, hustlers, dreamers, builders. Do we risk becoming irrelevant in a world where machines do our jobs faster and better?
What happens when a prompt — just a few words — can produce what took someone years of sweat to perfect? It’s not just a job issue. It’s an identity issue!
Are we finally going to become Sophisticated… But Jobless?
We might be on the verge of raising a generation of sophisticatedly unemployed people. Smart. Ambitious. Highly educated.
But displaced by tools built in Silicon Valley — by people who don’t even know where Osun State is. Is that alarmist? No — it’s realistic. But realism doesn’t mean panic. It means preparation.
Are we on track?
This isn’t about resisting innovation — far from it. I’m proudly part of Nigeria’s tech ecosystem. I believe AI can help us solve big problems — in healthcare, education, agriculture, even governance. But we can’t afford lazy excitement. We need active imagination.
We need to Build our own AI models (trained on African languages, Nigerian realities, and local problems), Revamp education(focus on critical thinking, not just certificates), Empower the creative industries (to see AI as a collaborator, not competition), Lead from the front —not always from behind.
Because let’s be honest, the future won’t wait and AI won’t ask for our permission to change the rules.
Is there still Hope for us?
Despite all the challenges, I believe in the Nigerian spirit. I’ve seen young Nigerians turn nothing into something, time and time again.
I don’t believe any machine can write our story for us — unless we let it. But we have to stay awake, we have to be strategic, we have to be audacious enough to build, not just consume.
My Final Thoughts: Let us start Asking Better Questions
The question isn’t “Will AI shape the future?” It’s: “What role will Nigeria play in creating that future?”
But even before we answer that, maybe we need to ask better questions: Is the idea of work about to be redefined?, Are we — after centuries of struggle — about to find ourselves back at square one?, If Africa doesn’t shape this technology, what will our future look like as mere consumers?
These are uncomfortable questions but from the right questions come the right actions. The future doesn’t belong to the loudest or the fastest. It belongs to those who ask the right questions early —and have the courage to build the answers.
About the Author
Akeem Hassan is an ecosystem builder and innovation adviser to the Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology.
Passionate about the intersection of technology, governance, and African prosperity, he works at the forefront of Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem — building bridges between policy, creativity, and the future.
He believes Africa must not just adopt technology, but help define its next chapters.
By Akeem Hassan
From Proximity to Purpose: How RC Ikeja Township’s “We Full Ground” Spirit Took Root
Rotary Club of Ikeja Township Celebrates Charter
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