By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
The Rotary Club of Makurdi has unveiled plans to support displaced children, vulnerable market women and rural health centres as part of its humanitarian projects for the 2026/2027 Rotary year.
The club’s 45th President, Rotn. Gilbert Gabriel Ogaboh, disclosed this on Saturday during his investiture in Makurdi.
He said that the projects were designed to create lasting impact in communities across Benue State.
Ogaboh said the club would construct a three-classroom block in one of the state’s Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps to provide displaced children with access to basic education.
He said the club would also select 100 vulnerable market women and give each of them N20,000 to strengthen their petty businesses and improve their livelihoods.
According to him, the club would provide electricity and birthing kits to the Primary Health Care Centre, Yaikyor, in Makurdi Local Government Area, while broken boreholes, particularly those serving healthcare centres, would be rehabilitated to provide access to clean water.
Ogaboh said the club would also embark on peace-building advocacy in conflict-affected communities, as well as disease prevention and treatment campaigns aimed at reducing illnesses and improving the quality of life of residents.
He added that the club would embark on massive tree planting to combat environmental degradation, stressing that the initiatives were in line with Rotary’s seven areas of focus and the 2026/2027 theme, “Create Lasting Impact.”
The new president, who described the club’s lack of a permanent secretariat after 45 years as a major gap, said efforts would also be made to construct a secretariat during his tenure to strengthen the club’s capacity to deliver humanitarian services.
Ogaboh appealed to individuals, organisations and well-wishers to support the projects through cash donations, cheques or direct sponsorship, assuring donors that their contributions would be used for the execution of the identified projects.
He commended the Immediate Past President, AG Benjamin Gar, for his achievements during his tenure and solicited his continued support, while urging non-Rotarians to join the organisation and contribute to its humanitarian mission.
