Helping humanity is a
major plank of Rotary’s objectives
–Rotarian Kate Ijemba
By Sun News Publishing
Saturday, April
26, 2008
For Rotarian Kate Ngozi Ijemba, nothing could be more rewarding
than putting a smile on people’s faces, especially,
the forgotten lot of the society. Kate’s passion for
caring and sharing was noticeable even, as a little girl by
all around her.
It is not surprising therefore, to her family and friends
that her childhood habit of sharing things with her friends
and concern for others eventually, had blossomed into full-scale
philanthropy.
Rotarian Kate Ijembi is President of the Rotary Club of Enugu
Municipal. Kate who hails from Anambra State quit her job
in the Ministry of Health and branched into fashion designing
so that she could give her best to her vocation.
During her investiture in August 2007 as the President, Rotary
Club of Enugu Municipal, she was honoured as a fellow of Paul
Harris in recognition of her outstanding contributions and
service to humanity and in keeping the ideals of Rotary, it
was clear that Rtn Ijemba is on a gradual march into the hall
of fame.
In this interview with Saturday Sun, the Rotary President
recalled the fountain of her inspiration to give the needy
and gives account of her stewardship during the past eight
months
My early life
“I discovered that I could not eat very well or be happy
if I failed to share things with my siblings and friends at
the age of ten. Then, if my mother went out, I would go to
the kitchen and bring out the food reserved for the family,
serve my friends who visited us. Each time it happened, my
mother would call scold me and said that I was the “Father
Christmas” of our family but it gave me joy’
Rotary means service
Ijemba debunks the wrong notion that the Rotary Club is an
elitist club. ‘Rotarians are people with the milk of
human kindness flowing in their veins. We are just like ordinary
men and women in the streets, market women and gurus in the
industries. But we are like a melting point. By the time,
we put together the little resources, time, talent and treasure,
we are able to meet the needs of the less privileged in the
society bridging the gap of complimenting the government efforts.
We don’t take from the needy to the greedy. We take
from the haves and give to the have nots. We are burdened
of how to put smiles on the faces of the less privileged in
the society. Our purpose is to serve’.
Her contributions
Rtn Ijembi attributes the successes recorded so far, in her
short period as the Enugu Municipal, Rotary boss to the grace
of God without which, success would not have been possible.
Activities mapped out include poverty eradication programme,
awareness campaign on the prevention of HIV/AIDS from mother
to child, continuation of water supply to the inmates of Enugu
prisons and hosting the physically challenged among others.
And in spite of the challenges posed by lack of funding, Ijemba
recalled some of her achievements. “I am happy that
despite our being “cash trapped”, we were still
able to put smiles on faces of many people. We made a cash
donation to offset the hospital bills of an HIV/AIDS patient
at Ntasiobi Hospital, Enugu.”
She also disclosed that Rotary Club of Enugu Municipal will
continue to provide clean drinking water for the inmates of
Enugu prisons, educate the uneducated, food supply to the
hungry as well as health to the poor and generally, empower
the less privileged. The club’s immediate community
will take priority, however. The President told Saturday Sun.
She also talked about two events that excited her during the
club’s recent outing. First, was the donation of food
items to beggars and destitute as their own contribution in
commemoration of the World Poverty Eradication Day. The other
was their recent visit to Enugu prisons where the inmates
were provided with drinking water.
“It was a session of dancing, jubilation, commendation
and cries of joy by the inmates who saw the gift of water
as the most desired by all, we were informed by the Comptroller
Enugu Prisons, who was equally appreciative of the water
Following her predecessors’ foot steps
For a good outing, Rtn Kate Ijemba gave credit to her predecessors.
“They have always been there to give good advice and
sincere support to every programme we have had since I took
over as the head. The Chairman of our committee have been
most wonderful. I also want to acknowledge the District Governor
of District 9140, Rtn Udo Mboso , Dr. Eddy Ndibuagu and all
our members.”
Paul Harris Fellowship
Acknowledging that beyond the honour of recognition, the Paul
Harris Fellowship is a challenge as well as a wake-up call
for her to keep up the good work.
“For one to be so recognised shows that the people and
the community appreciate your little contributions to improve
and add value to their lives. As a Rotarian, helping humanity
is a major plank of the club’s cardinal objectives and
that I strive to achieve’’ said Rtn Ijembi. |
