Olayinka Babalola, a member of the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi in Rivers state, has been elected president of Rotary International (RI).
Babalola becomes the second Nigerian and African to lead the 120-year-old global humanitarian organisation.
He will assume office on July 1, 2026, following the resignation of SangKoo Yun, president-elect, who stepped down to focus on his cancer treatment.
Rotary, in a statement on Thursday, said Babalola was chosen for his extensive leadership record within the organisation, including service as club president, district governor, board member, and RI vice president.
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He has also served on the End Polio Now Countdown to History Campaign committee and Nigeria’s National PolioPlus committee.
Outside Rotary, Babalola is an engineer and attorney with over two decades of experience in the oil and gas sector, where he held senior roles at Shell across four continents.
He is the founder of Riviera Services Ltd., an oil and gas infrastructure company, and Lead and Change Consulting, a leadership advisory firm.
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Reacting to the announcement, President Bola Tinubu congratulated Babalola, describing his election as “a testament to years of selfless service, philanthropic initiatives, and pursuit of projects that have impacted lives, strengthened communities, and advanced peace and human dignity”.
In a statement on Friday signed by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, Tinubu said that Babalola’s elevation would inspire Nigerians, especially young people, to believe that “anyone can achieve global recognition and lead transformative change with vision, integrity, and dedication to service”.
The RI president serves a one-year term, leading the board of directors and acting as the organisation’s global spokesperson.
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