By David Lawani, Abuja
Rotary International President-elect, Olayinka Hakeem Babalola, has unveiled an ambitious growth agenda for the global service organisation, challenging Rotarians worldwide to increase membership and strengthen retention efforts to reach 1.25 million Rotarians and 125,000 Rotaractors by 2030.
Babalola issued the challenge while outlining his vision for Rotary’s future, urging clubs worldwide to surpass previous membership records and expand the organisation’s capacity to deliver lasting impact in communities.
“We have a goal of 1.25 million Rotarians and 125,000 Rotaractors by 2030. Each new member represents a person who has not yet had their Rotary story. They are out there, and they are waiting for us to welcome them,” he said.
The incoming Rotary International President called on clubs to measure future performance against their strongest years and raise the bar even higher.
“Look back at the last five to seven years in your club. Find your best year for membership growth and retention. Then do better than your best,” Babalola declared.
He described Rotary as more than a service organisation, saying its strength lies in its ability to transform lives through fellowship, leadership and community service.
“Every Rotary member has a story, a moment when fellowship and service stopped being what you did and became who you are,” he said.
“I want us to tell more stories about how Rotary has changed every one of us. Because when we do, we show the world that Rotary is more than a service organisation. It is a transformative experience.”
Drawing from over four decades of service in Rotary, Babalola recounted how a literacy project he joined as a young Rotaractor shaped his lifelong commitment to community development.
“I watched a woman read her own name for the first time. That moment redirected me. I was no longer simply a young man with opportunities; I became a young man with a responsibility to extend those opportunities to others,” he said.
Babalola also unveiled “Create Lasting Impact” as the theme of his presidency, stressing that Rotary’s mission must go beyond short-term achievements to creating sustainable change.
“In Rotary, we give members a place to belong. We help keep students in school. We organise vaccination campaigns that protect children. These results matter. But to create lasting impact asks a harder question: What happens next?” he said.
The Rotary leader urged members to pursue peacebuilding, community transformation and sustainable development deliberately.
“Peace must be deliberately pursued. It must be built into the design of what we do, not assumed as a by-product,” he stated.
As he prepares to assume office, Babalola called on Rotarians across the globe to seize the opportunity to expand Rotary’s reach and strengthen its impact.
“This year is our turn to forge the next link in that chain, to build the future we wish to see and to create lasting impact across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves,” he said.
