Former Governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima, has lamented that Nigeria lacked selfless and charitable leaders dedicated to meeting the needs of the less provoked in society.
Shettima stated this in his speech as Chairman of the investiture ceremony of the Managing Editor Northern Operation of The Nation Newspaper, Rotarian Yusuf Alli as the 11th President of the Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama, in Abuja.
He commended the Rotary International for their selfless service to humanity, saying they have become the conscience of the society.
Shettima said: “There’s a reason both religious groups and corporate organizations revolve around the principle of giving back to society.”
“It’s not just to compensate for the negative externalities accumulated in the pursuits of our capitalist and self-serving interests, but to fill the vacuum around us.
“When you look around this country to trace the origin of our national dilemma, the most glaring shortcoming is always an undersupply of selfless and charitable leaders, whether in politics or business, socio-cultural groups, or local communities.
“As a time-tested group, Rotarians have figured out the danger of playing down the conditions of the needy, especially those in our immediate surroundings.
“Your Club which operates from the nation’s capital and a district recognized as a habitat of some of the nation’s most influential people is privileged to grasp the socio-economic contrasts that have widened the nation’s poverty gap in the past years.
“We must never give back to society just to appeal to ourselves, for that seems to be the mindset.
Shettima said he is not surprised that Rotn. Yusuf Alli was chosen as the as the 11th President of the Rotary Club of Abuja Maitama.
In his remarks, Rotn Alli said even though he accidentally joined Rotary, his reason for joining the Club was not to lead but to serve.
“I have never aspired to lead. All I wanted was to serve in my little way. I come from a family with a deep passion for service and giving.
“I also married from a family which loves to share and give. So, I saw myself only living up to type in Rotary, it does not look extraordinary.
“I need to explain this to clear doubts about my resilience for service in Rotary. As long as I serve humanity, I do not expect anything in return.”
The immediate past President of the Club, Rotn Victoria Unoarumi, said listed some of her achievements to include increased membership, surpassed goal set for the Rotary Foundation with contribution of $43,718.00, execution of 21 projects in the Rotary’s seven area of focus, completed a star project of a block of five classrooms.
