The Rotary Club of Egbe, District 9112, Nigeria, has launched a N50 million Community Development Project during the installation of Nneka Anaemena, a Nigerian medical infrastructure investor, as its 23rd president.
Anaemena, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Nicktech Medicals Nig. Ltd, began her humanitarian journey with Africare International, where she served as a Peer and Sex Educator between 2007 and 2009, before joining the Rotary Club of Egbe in 2019.
Through her NGO commitments and entrepreneurial services, she is reputed for partnering with international organisations and state governments across the federation to equip general hospitals with state-of-the-art medical equipment, thereby improving public healthcare services.
Her installation, held on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at the banquet hall of the Rotary Centre, Ladoke Akintola GRA Office, drew notable figures from the Nigerian public healthcare industry, successful business leaders from the South East, traditional chiefs, and distinguished members of Rotary.
With the insignia of office officially removed from the outgoing president, Joseph Isa, Anamena was installed as the 23rd president of the club by leaders of the international humanitarian organisation and other dignitaries present at about midday.
Delivering a lecture titled “Preventing Burn Disasters on Nigerian Roads”, Guest Speaker Prof Babatunde Adeola described burn injuries as a serious epidemic that must be intentionally mitigated and prevented globally.
According to him, the injuries result from fire incidents in homes, workplaces and automobile or tanker accidents on the roads, with high morbidity and mortality rates.
In highly developed countries, the numbers are 57 women and 106 men per 1,000 injuries. In low developed countries, it is 249 women and 291 men per 1,000 injuries,” he said, calling for drastic steps to stem the tide.
“In Nigeria alone, between 2015 and now, data show that over 3,275 people have died from burn injuries emanating from road accidents. Unfortunately, we have seen that the prevalence of these accidents occurs with petrol tankers conveying Premium Motor Spirit on our roads or through pipeline vandalisation.”
“To prevent the situation, we have to utilise pipeline infrastructure more, reduce transportation haulage of petrol, and educate safety agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), institutions, road users and the public,” he added.
Adeola also advocated for improved and accessible public healthcare services with adequate medical infrastructure and a trained workforce to treat burn injury patients.
“People must understand that in the event of a petrol fire accident, for example, the most important thing to do is to run far away for safety. They should leave the rescuing of others to experts,” he said.
He further warned against scooping fuel from fallen tankers, noting that such incidents led to the deaths of over 3,445 people between 2010 and 2016 alone.
In his address, Chairman of the Event Organising Committee, Lawrence Adesoye, explained that the occasion was aimed at generating funds for the implementation of the club’s community service projects for the Rotary year.
He listed the projects to include medical support for identified patients with goitre, fibroid and prostate cancer; sinking boreholes for communities without potable water; providing primary, secondary and tertiary scholarships; donating exercise books, school bags and sandals; and distributing grinding machines for small and medium-scale business owners.
According to him: “Our club, in the last 22 years, has consistently supported the community in all the seven areas of Rotary Focus, with the help of members and well-wishers. It is your enduring spirit, driven by fellowship, service and commitment to change, that influences the maximum impact on our communities. It is with your longstanding financial and material support that we will continue our community development impact under the new president, Anaemena.”
