ROTARY SPORT AT DISTRICT 1145 DG INSTALLATION

The start of the new Rotary year is July, and every year, a new President is installed for each and every Rotary Club worldwide. Even Rotary International got a new President. It is tradition. Rotary Presidency is usually for one year, and new leaders step up and take office, in most cases.

 

It is the same with all of Rotary Club’s districts. Every year there is a district governor for each and every one of the 529 districts worldwide; and District 1145 South in the UK was no exception.

 

But this year, it was one with a difference as Rotary District 1145 installed Rotarian Olatunji (TJ) Olaleye as District Governor for 2025/26.  TJ is a dedicated Rotarian of many years’ standing, been involved with Rotary since the 1980s when he was at school in his native Nigeria. And he relocated, as an established medical practitioner in anaesthesia in the UK, combining Rotary duties with everyday work, and still found time to devote enough to the Club as to be chosen as District Governor of District 1145.

 

Rotarian TJ is the first black, first African Rotarian to assume the position of District Governor in 1145 and his celebration was in style. Very much an ‘African affair’, it had pomp, it had flair and our very own President, Dr ‘Tunde Adelakun, was there to witness it.

 

As Dr ‘Tunde said, ‘it is with pride that we have come to be represented at this event by me. Not only because TJ is an African, but because his district 1145 has shown genuine interest and commitment to the cause of what we are doing at Rotary Sport. TJ and I have spoken, and we will be setting up an arm of Rotary Sport in his district during his Governorship year, to reflect the enthusiasm of the people of the south of England towards sport and what it can do for society’.

 

Also on hand to honour TJ was Past District Governor Dr Wole Kukoyi, who mentored Rotarian TJ in Nigeria and was the first District Governor for the new District 9111 in Nigeria. His tenure ended in June 2025.

 

Our aim is to put ourselves about as much as possible, to show our desire to use the power of sport to connect people, and to build the family of Rotary, and to unite for the good of humanity.