Gombe State Deputy Governor, Manassah Jatau, on Tuesday expressed concern over the low rate of membership enrolment into Rotary International despite the organisation’s long-standing reputation for humanitarian service.
Jatau made the remarks while receiving the District Governor of Rotary International District 9127, Dame Joy Okoro, who paid him a courtesy visit.
The visit provided an avenue to brief the state government on the club’s activities, strengthen collaboration on humanitarian interventions and formally induct the deputy governor as a member of the Rotary Club.
In his remarks, Jatau commended Rotary’s global humanitarian impact, adding “human beings should willingly participate in programmes that improve lives. The state government will continue to ensure Gombe residents benefit fully from Rotary projects.”
The deputy governor urged the club to intensify outreach efforts in critical areas such as the Kaltungo Snakebite Hospital, Polio eradication, and maternal and infant health, adding that “although the state government has established two functional health centres in each of the 114 political wards, stronger partnerships are needed especially to sustain anti-venom supply at the snakebite hospital, which serves the entire North-East region and neighbouring countries.”
He revealed that the state has been advocating for the hospital’s upgrade into a full-fledged snake research institute, expressing optimism that the federal government will act on the request, stressing that the upgrade would drastically reduce snakebite cases and mortality.
On maternal and infant mortality, the deputy governor lamented the high number of deaths despite government efforts, describing it as an area requiring urgent collective action. He appreciated Rotary for its recent medical outreach, which he said eased the health burden on both government and citizens.
Earlier in her remarks,the District Governor Joy Okoro described Rotary International as a global humanitarian organisation committed to community service, integrity, peace, and goodwill.
She explained that her visit to Gombe was part of a routine tour of all clubs across 16 northern states and Abuja.
Okoro noted that her team visited the Kaltungo Emir’s Palace, “whose Emir is a Rotarian—and the Snakebite Hospital, where we witnessed firsthand challenges and the need for intensified support,” she added.
She emphasised the importance of collaboration among governments, individuals, and organisations in tackling snakebite, polio, and maternal and infant mortality, affirming Rotary’s commitment to mobilising support through national and international partnerships, including potential collaborations with global philanthropists for grants.
Okoro urged Gombe residents to join Rotary, noting that “the state is too large to be served by only two clubs.”
