Page 12 - 2026年7月號

ies in Nigeria. His mother was a teacher and
his father an accountant. “From my part of
est cities in Nigeria. His mother was a teacher
the world, when you’re the first child, that has
some leadership responsibilities,” he says.
and his father an accountant. “From my part
He went to college at what was then called
of the world, when you’re the fi rst child, that
the Federal University of Technol
has some leadership responsibilities,” he says.
Ϟքʿлԭၾ̋ࣅɽА୕ٙҧogy in Bau-
He went to college at what was then called
chi, an ethnically diverse city in the north
ቃٟࡰձ̻‧ढἑ‧τ̵
where Nigeria’s savanna woodlands begin to
the Federal University of Technology in Bau-
ԭ (Peace Udoka Anyira) ೮̨
give way to the semiarid Sahel on the edge of
chi, an ethnically diverse city in the north
where Nigeria’s savanna woodlands begin to
the Sahara. The school’s public image direc-
➺
ᘠਨj
tor, a member of the Rotary Club of Bauchi,
Olayinka H. Babalola give way to the semiarid Sahel on the edge of
the Sahara. The school’s public image direc-
asked him during his second year if he’d help
քʿлԭdҢࡁΣઆߧหd
➺
makes his way tor, a member of the Rotary Club of Bauchi,
organize a Rotaract club. Babalola became the
ෳזߵ̔hˋˋᖯז
Ңࡁፋฌٙख़਷d
asked him during his second year if he’d help
club’s charter president.
to the front row. organize a Rotaract club. Babalola became the
After earning his degree in electronics
ᐽԴ௅ૄၾႧԊ΢ମd
(Olayinka H. Babalola)
club’s charter president.
This is it. It’s showtime, the moment that engineering, Babalola completed a year in
ҢࡁԱ್Ԩٲχͭf
After earning his degree in electronics
ӉΣᝈ଺ࢩۃરf
Yinka, as he’s called — the 2026-27 Rotary In- the National Youth Service Corps. Aiming
քʿлԭٙΌ᜗Νߤd r in
This is it. It’s showtime, the moment that engineering, Babalola completed a yea
ternational president, the second from Nigeria, to bridge ethnic and religious divides, mem-
Yinka, as he’s called — the 2026-27 Rotary In- the National Youth Service Corps. Aiming
ఱ݊ତίdλᏕ೮ఙf଺ɛޫ
the second from all of Africa for that matter — bers of the corps serve in states other than
ޫ˸؂ਕҢࡁ˴ᛆዹͭٙ
ternational president, the second from Nigeria, to bridge ethnic and religious divides, mem-
their own. Babalola was posted to Port Har-
will make his debut to the Rotary world.
ख़਷މ࿲f
၈˼މ˜ߵ̔™(Yinka)dவ
the second from all of Africa for that matter — bers of the corps serve in states other than
It’s the first morning of Rotary’s Interna-
court in Rivers state, where the French tire
will make his debut to the Rotary world. their own. Babalola was posted to Port Har-
З 2026-27 ϋܓٙ਷ყҧቃٟ
tional Assembly, a training event for incoming manufacturer Michelin had requested elec-
ˋˋᖯזɰ༧ഹɓΝ৷
It’s the fi rst morning of Rotary’s Interna- court in Rivers state, where the French tire
district governors held every winter in Orlando, tronics engineering graduates to help retool
ڗ ―― ʔස݊քʿлԭ̦ɪ
tional Assembly, a training event for incoming manufacturer Michelin had requested elec-
ဂdϤࣛdɓဈଅम๞ໝ˼ٙ
Florida. Babalola’s already miked up for the its equipment.
district governors held every winter in Orlando, tronics engineering graduates to help retool
speech he’ll give, the session’s main even
ٙୋɚЗdɰ݊዆ࡈڢݲɽ௔t. But
Before arriving in Port Harcourt, Babalola
ᑕ᎔f
Florida. Babalola’s already miked up for the its equipment.
first, he prepares to participate in the opening joined other newly mobilized corps members
ٙୋɚЗ਷ყҧቃٟڗ ――
speech he’ll give, the session’s main event. But Before arriving in Port Harcourt, Babalola
˜ᗫ׵քʿлԭdЫࡁ
flag ceremony, a tradition at Rotary events.
at an orientation camp. He figured since they
fi rst, he prepares to participate in the opening joined other newly mobilized corps members
уਗ਼ίҧቃ˰ޢ͍όڥ޴f
He joins 2025-26 RI President Francesco were all fresh out of university, there must
̙ঐᛓཀ஢εࠋ݂ࠦٙԫdШ
fl ag ceremony, a tradition at Rotary events. at an orientation camp. He fi gured since they
be Rotaractors among them. He posted a no-
Arezzo of Italy and Larry Lunsford of the
வ݊਷ყᑺ୦ึٙୋɓ
He joins 2025-26 RI President Francesco were all fresh out of university, there must
ʦ˂dவഒڢɓࡈࠋ݂ࠦٙ
United States, who will serve after Babalola. tice and gathered everybody together. “We
Arezzo of Italy and Larry Lunsford of the be Rotaractors among them. He posted a no-
ࡈɪʹᙄ೻dவఙਖ਼މᐼ္຅
The three walk onstage, hoisting their coun-
started a mini Rotaract fellowship while in
ԫf™˼ᎇܝႭ༸dᑊࠪΪ
United States, who will serve after Babalola. tice and gathered everybody together. “We
tries’ flags. A singer belts out the U.S. national camp,” he recalls.
፯ɛᑘ፬ٙ৅ᇖݺਗdӊϋ̆
ዧਗϾࡷۚf˼࿜ɨ଻ᗝdܴ
The three walk onstage, hoisting their coun- started a mini Rotaract fellowship while in
Then in Port Harcourt, Babalola joined
anthem. Then, the Italian district governors-
֙ேίНᖯԢ༺ψෳᚆεᑘ
tries’ fl ags. A singer belts out the U.S. national camp,” he recalls.
elect join Arezzo onstage to sing “Il Canto
the Rotaract Club of Trans Amadi, an in -
̘଻ଅܝႭj˜வࡈ਷࢕ٙ਷
anthem. Then, the Italian district governors- Then in Port Harcourt, Babalola joined
dustrial area of the city where Michelin was
degli Italiani.”
Бfˋˋᖯזʊ຾ԽᏖλೌᇞ
࿩dމəਫ਼৷ٙഛБdίԸІ
elect join Arezzo onstage to sing “Il Canto the Rotaract Club of Trans Amadi, an in-
located. With other Rotaract corps members,
Finally, it’s Babalola’s turn. He steps for-
degli Italiani.” ௥дࠬd๟௪೯ڌவఙᑺ୦ึ he volunteered at a facility for children with
dustrial area of the city where Michelin was
ward and stands taller, his glittery green-and-
ɓϵεࡈ਷࢕eတᕿഛจٙλ
Finally, it’s Babalola’s turn. He steps for- located. With other Rotaract corps members,
ٙࠠ᎘ᏕစႭfШίϤʘۃd
white striped hat matching his country’s flag. disabilities that was supported by the Rotary
ɛࠦۃ৷৷ʺৎf™
ward and stands taller, his glittery green-and- he volunteered at a facility for children with
Peace Udoka Anyira, a Nigerian Canadian
Club of Port Harcourt.
˼͍๟௪ਞ̋ක࿇ᘠ࿩ᄃόd
white striped hat matching his country’s fl ag. disabilities that was supported by the Rotary
When his mandatory service w
І 7 ˜ 1 ˚ৎdˋˋᖯזas over, Ba-
Rotarian, steps onstage and sings:
Peace Udoka Anyira, a Nigerian Canadian Club of Port Harcourt.
வ݊ҧቃݺਗٙෂ୕f
balola landed a job with the Nigerian branch of
ਗ਼੭ჯ˼ࡁۃБf
Rotarian, steps onstage and sings: When his mandatory service was over, Ba-
Nigeria, we hail thee,
˼ၾԸІ່ɽлٙ 2025- the Shell oil company. Only in his mid-20s, he
balola landed a job with the Nigerian branch of
Our own dear native land,
was beginning to outgrow his Rotaract club; his
Nigeria, we hail thee, the Shell oil company. Only in his mid-20s, he
ˋˋᖯזٙჯኬʘ༩
26 ϋܓ਷ყҧቃٟڗࣦ̿Г
job gave him the privilege of a better income
Though tribes and tongues may differ,
Our own dear native land, was beginning to outgrow his Rotaract club; his
In brotherhood we stand
than others his age. The next logical step, he
೯৑ޟϘf ˼̈͛
౶߅‧ڛ๿Рd˸ʿਗ਼ίˋˋ
Though tribes and tongues may di er, job gave him the privilege of a better income
Nigerians all, are proud to serve
thought, was to join Rotary, where he could
In brotherhood we stand than others his age. The next logical step, he
׵քʿлԭ௰ɽ̹ٙ۬ʘɓ
ᖯזʘܝટ΂eԸІߕ਷ٙ፠
Our sovereign Motherland.
find inspiration from successful older mem-
Nigerians all, are proud to serve thought, was to join Rotary, where he could
―― ͺˋʗ (Ibadan)d݊ 6 ࡈ
bers. “I wanted to be in a place where I could
๿‧ࣦ౶၅ (Larry Lunsford)
Our sovereign Motherland. fi nd inspiration from successful older mem- Clockwise from top left:
Babalola sings along too, and as he does, a aspire to other things,” he says. Rotary President Olayinka
bers. “I wanted to be in a place where I could
܀ɿʕٙڗɿf˼͎ٙፋ݊ɓ
ɓΝ೮̨fɧɛԐɪႀ̨d৷
But when he went to a meeting of the Rotary
tear rolls down his cheek.
H. Babalola sings along
Babalola sings along too, and as he does, a aspire to other things,” he says. 左上起順時針方向：਷ყ
ҧቃٟڗෳזߵ̔‧ˋˋᖯ
“You hear a lot of bad stories about Nigeria, Club of Trans Amadi and said he wanted to
tear rolls down his cheek. Τ઺ࢪd˨ፋۆ݊ɓЗึࠇ to the Nigerian national
ᑘ΢І਷࢕ٙ਷࿩fဂ˓ˏჯ But when he went to a meeting of the Rotary
anthem at Rotary’s
but today, the story is not a bad story,” he says join, club members were stunned. One Rotar- זί਷ყᑺ୦ึɪᄁᑊ৷ਨ
“You hear a lot of bad stories about Nigeria, Club of Trans Amadi and said he wanted to International Assembly;
ࢪf˼Ⴍj˜ίҢٙ࢕ඊdԒ
৷ਨߕ਷਷ဂiᎇܝd່ɽл
afterward, choking up with emotion. He takes ian erupted: “What’s wrong with this young քʿлԭ਷ဂiၾ˃ɛ౷ᑜ
but today, the story is not a bad story,” he says join, club members were stunned. One Rotar- with his wife, Precy
ٙᐼ္຅፯ɛɰၾڛ๿Рί̨
off his glasses and wipes his eyes. “The flag of man? You think this is how you jo
މڗɿdІ್Ͼ್ఱٲࠋഹݔin Rotary?”
Babalola (center), at the
afterward, choking up with emotion. He takes ian erupted: “What’s wrong with this young Г‧ˋˋᖯז€ʕɓΝ̈
this country is being raised amongst people of But another Rotarian volunteered to be his
assembly’s culture night;
o” his glasses and wipes his eyes. “The fl ag of man? You think this is how you join Rotary?” ࢩ਷ყᑺ୦ึٙ˖ʷʘցi
၇ჯኬٙப΂f™
ɪᄁᑊΥਨ່ɽл਷ဂ່ɽ
with Nigerian Rotaractors
goodwill — good people from more than 100 sponsor, later becoming a mentor. “If that man
this country is being raised amongst people of But another Rotarian volunteered to be his ၾքʿлԭҧڡٟࡰΥᅂ
(Babalola is the first RI
˼ɽኪఱᛘ׵З׵̍փ
лɛʘဂ‘f
hadn’t spoken up for me, maybe I wouldn’t be
countries, for a good cause.”
goodwill — good people from more than 100 sponsor, later becoming a mentor. “If that man president to start his
here,” Babalola reflects. “I may have left the
As of 1 July, Babalola will lead them.
countries, for a good cause.” hadn’t spoken up for me, maybe I wouldn’t be €ˋˋᖯז݊࠯Зீཀҧڡ PHOTOGRAPH: RIGHT ANDREW ESIEBO PHOTOGRAPH: RIGHT ANDREW ESIEBO
(Bauchi)e຅ࣛΤމᑌԞ߅Ҧ
୞׵dቃՑˋˋᖯזəf
Rotary journey through
place and never considered joining Rotary, and ٟක઼Չҧቃዝ೻ٙ਷ყҧ
As of 1 July, Babalola will lead them. here,” Babalola refl ects. “I may have left the Rotaract); and dancing
˼ΣۃᒕӉd৷࣎Ԓᔶd᎘Ꮦ ɽኪٙኪࣧfவ݊ɓࢭ͏ૄε ቃٟڗi˸ʿၾήਜᐼ္
BaBalola’s leadership journey began that would have been the end of it.”
with governors-elect.
place and never considered joining Rotary, and
early. The eldest of six children, he was
In Rotary, Babalola found career mentors,
that would have been the end of it.”
ɓ௟ၾख़਷਷࿩ʹ޴ሾ݈e ʩٙ̏˙̹۬dքʿлԭٙ୼ ຅፯ɛɓৎ༪ႀf
born in Ibadan, one of the largest cit- including the chief operating officer of Shell
In Rotary, Babalola found career mentors,
৪ᘴഹၠͣ޴ගૢ७ٙసɿf ࡡ؍ή͍஼နཀನމᅥ۞זӍ
including the chief operating ož cer of Shell
12 RotaRy JULY 2026
12 ROTARY JULY 2026
10
臺灣扶輪 2026.7
jul26-D-YinkaProfile.indd 12 5/22/26 18:11