District Governor, Rotarian Olufemi Adenekan’s Message For April 2025: “The Environmental Month”

The Environmental Month

Dear Rotarians, partners, and community members,

I warmly welcome you to the month of April—a time when we embrace an essential theme that unites us all: the Environment, which is the seventh area of focus of Rotary. This serves as a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to protect and preserve our planet for future generations. Before the start of this Rotary year, I pledged my commitment to this cause, and I am proud to see the remarkable efforts we have made so far.

Rotary International recognizes that a healthy environment is fundamental to sustainable development and the well-being of communities worldwide. As Rotarians, we have a unique opportunity to lead by example—taking action to combat climate change, promote sustainability, and safeguard natural resources.

Personally, I feel a deep obligation to encourage us all to protect our environment. Earth is our only home—it has sustained humanity for millions of years, and it is our duty to ensure it remains habitable for generations to come. We inherited this planet from our ancestors, and we must leave it better than we found it.

As a District, we have demonstrated this commitment by planting 1,000 coconut trees in a single day along the Atlantic coast in Ogonbo, Lekki, Lagos State, Nigeria, on July 21, 2024. Through our District and Clubs, we have collectively planted over 4,000 coconut and other trees—a milestone we intend to build upon by planting even more throughout this month, along with other environmental initiatives.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all our partners, including the Lagos State Government, for their support and active participation in this cause.

I encourage every club in our district to take part in environmental projects such as tree planting, clean-up campaigns, waste reduction initiatives, and educational programs on environmental conservation. Small actions, when multiplied, create a significant impact. Let us also collaborate with local governments, schools, and community organizations to amplify our efforts.

To all our Muslim Rotarians, Happy Eid-el-Fitr! May Allah accept your supplications and grant you peace and blessings. Amen.

Together, we can make a difference. Let April be a month of action, commitment, and advocacy for the environment. Our collective efforts today will pave the way for a greener and healthier tomorrow.

Yours in Rotary Service,

Olufemi Adenekan
Pioneer District Governor
Rotary International District 9112