The Rotary Club of Lagos officially received its charter on May 30th, 1961, approximately five weeks after the Rotary Club of Kano and about six months before the Rotary Club of Ibadan. The idea to establish a Rotary Club in Lagos arose serendipitously from a chance meeting between John G. Egnatoff, the special representative of Rotary International, and Mr. J. Adebanjo Tuyo, who signed the charter membership application and can be regarded as the first member of the Rotary Club of Lagos.
The club’s inaugural meeting, a dinner, was held at the Federal Palace Hotel on Friday, April 21st, 1961. This was followed by the charter night, which took place on Monday, July 10th, 1961, also at the Federal Palace Hotel. The founding membership comprised 26 charter members, each representing different professional classifications.
The very first meeting was a dinner which was held at The Federal Palace Hotel on friday April 21st, 1961. The charter night took place on Monday July 10th, 1961 at Federal Palace Hotel. There were 26 charter members who are listed below with their corresponding classifications:
The club’s weekly meetings began at the Federal Palace Hotel and were initially scheduled for Wednesdays from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM. However, members found it challenging to adhere to Rotary’s weekly attendance regulations. For instance, in 1965, only 15 out of 66 members achieved a 60% attendance rate, and none recorded 100%.
To address this challenge, several proposals were considered, including shifting meetings to Saturdays or holding evening sessions on Wednesdays. However, these experiments proved unsuccessful due to frequent clashes with Lagos’ vibrant social events. Consequently, the club reverted to its original Wednesday afternoon meetings, which continue to this day, albeit with a revised start time of 1:00 PM.
In 1961, the annual membership fee was £10 (ten pounds). Over the years, this fee has evolved, increasing to N250.00 in 1987, N10,000 in the 1999/2000 Rotary Year, and N12,000 by 2001/2002. As of May 5th, 2021, the Rotary Club of Lagos boasts a membership of 104 members, with its peak membership reaching 114 members in the 1979/80 Rotary Year. Notably, the club holds the distinction of being the premier club in District 9110 and is currently the only club in Nigeria with 24 active Past Presidents.
In 1963, the club launched its monthly bulletin, KEKE-EKO, which was published until 1975. The name was likely inspired by the cog in the Rotary emblem. In 1979, the bulletin was revived under a new name, The Lagos Rotarian, maintaining a monthly publication schedule. In 1987, it transitioned to a weekly format, retaining the name. Today, The Lagos Rotarian is once again a monthly bulletin, continuing to serve as a vital communication channel for the club.
Within Rotary circles, the Rotary Club of Lagos is affectionately known as “The Grandfather Club.” This moniker reflects its pivotal role in establishing other clubs that have, in turn, gone on to charter additional clubs. Rooted in service and driven by fellowship, the club’s legacy is a testament to the transformative power of Rotary—a story of countless lives touched and communities uplifted.
Rooted in service and driven by fellowship, the history of the Rotary Club of Lagos is a narrative of enduring impact, showcasing how collective efforts can create lasting change. From its humble beginnings to its esteemed status today, the Rotary Club of Lagos continues to shine as a beacon of hope and inspiration.