It is with gratitude that I accept the leadership of the International Inner Wheel in Nigeria. Our IIW President, Christine Kirby has carefully chosen a beautiful theme as "Empower and Evolve” while our social project is "Caring for Women and Girls". Because we are women, we understand where the shoe actually pinches. Let us transform our vision into reality. If we educate a woman, we educate a nation.
I welcome all Inner Wheel members into the Empowerment Train as we focus on our fore mothers, widows, sexually abused and unemployed girls, while we also discourage female genital mutilation in our various communities. When all these are achieved, we would have made our badge of Inner Wheel worthwhile.
Nnenna Opebiyi.
National Representative and President of Inner Wheel Clubs in Nigeria.
Rotary came to Nigeria in 1961 with the formation of a club in Kano in April, and another in Lagos in May in 1966, the first lnner Wheel Club in Nigeria was formed in Lagos with Mrs. Deji Alakija as its Charter President in 1969. The second Club was lnner Wheel Club of lkeja, its Charter Certificate was presented by the lnternational lnner Wheel President Mrs. Marjorie Foster: The third Club was formed in 1980 in Kano, from 1982, many Clubs were formed in rapid succession and presently there are about 53 active Clubs in Nigeria with 636 members nationwide. The growth of Rotary extended to lnner Wheel in formation of Districts. District 911 emerged in 1984/85 with Mrs. Adeola Majiyagbe as its first District Chairman. District 912 had Mrs. Beatrice Agama as its first District Chairman in 1984/85 with PBM Bisi Solaru in Distric 911 Both Districts had the honour of Mrs. Doris Browne, the then lnternational President at their inaugurations. To date there are 3 District 911, 913 and 914.
