Prior to the creation of District 914 (as it was then called) on July 1st 1986; clubs that fell within that geographical enclave were part of then District 912 which was itself created on July 1st 1984. It could be remembered that District 912 is an offspring of District 911 which was created two years earlier as the pioneer indigenous District in Nigeria.
At Creation in 1986, the geographical area covered by the new District comprised five states. As at then, less than twenty Rotaract clubs were in existence having been admitted by Rotary International.
A large majority of these clubs were located in higher Institutions of learning and a negligible few were community based. Some of these early clubs included the:
* Rotaract Club of IMT-Enugu Chartered on 21st September 1981
* Rotaract Club of UNN-Nsuka Chartered on 2nd July 1982
* Rotaract Club of UNEC-Enugu Chartered on 2nd July 1982
* Rotaract Club of UNICAL- Calabar Chartered on 30th March 1984
* Rotaract Club of UST-Port Harcourt Chartered on 15th May 1984
* Rotaract Club of UNIPORT Chartered on 15th June 1984
* Rotaract Club of ABSU then IMSU Chartered on 11th February 1985 etc
1985 marked the entrance of Community based clubs as Clubs such as USELU C.B., ENUGU SOUTH and EKULU C.B. were born. The emergence of more Community Based clubs in that period brought more maturity into Rotaract organization at the district.
The 1986/87 R.I. theme “Rotary Brings Hope” was most succinct for the district, it helped immeasurably in encouraging Rotarians and Rotaractors alike to remain steadfast to their service vows.
While, Rotn. Fred Agama of Rotary Club of Port Harcourt led the new District as Governor, Rotr. Alphonsus Ginikanwa of Rotaract Club of Enugu South was chosen to serve as the pioneer DRR. Rotr. Chris
Azoroh also of Rotaract Club of Enugu South at the end of that year took over from Rotr. Alphonsus and served for the 1987/88 year. It is on record that hitherto Rotr. Chris has remained the only DRR that
attended Rotaract International Convention (a.k.a INTEROTA) while still serving. He attended the 1988 Interota otherwise called Shiefield ’88.
After Rotr. Chris came in quick succession PDRR’S Randolf Brown of Trans –Amadi Port Harcourt (1988/89), Francis Agu of Ogbor Hill, Aba (1989/90), Chris Obialor of Port Harcourt South (1990/91), and Femi Imevbore of Uselu CB. (1991/92). Femi’s year opened a new nomenclature in the district name tag as District 914 became District 9140courtesy of Rotary International Policy adding zero to all district
numbers. We were told, this became necessary via Rotary going computer.
Rotr. Karibi T. George of Diobu C.B. Port Harcourt became the DRR for 1992/93 year. He recorded some traceable improvements over his
predecessors in the area of district organization and administration.
Karibi being a journalist brought his literary experiences to the fore by publishing the first district magazine “Rotaract 9140” which was launched at the year’s conference held at the Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State. Karibi’s tenure has been described generally as
being very modest. It became the turn of Emma Oghre in 1993/94. He strove steadfastly
to consolidate on the achievements of Karibi T. George . The DRR’s quarterly newsletter during Emma’s tenure became more manifest so
was his club’s visit. Emma has the credit of putting the District Bye- Laws into print. A document that has continued to serve as both Bye- law and song book at both district and club functions. Rotr. Sunday A. Campbell of Nsukka CB took over from Emma Oghre
and adroitly paddled the service boat for the 1994/95 year.
Campbell’s year brought some initiatives and transformations in the district. The hitherto DRR’s quarterly newsletter became a major newsletter and christened “THE ROTALETTER”. He also introduced the
ROTA-CULTURAL FIESTA in commemoration of the R.I’s world peace and understanding month of February.
After Campbell came Late Norman Morris of Diobu C.B. Port Harcourt. Norman’s tenure recorded immense applause for its broad based and well defined community service project. The success of his administration was measured more on its district wide polio-plus
campaign which was its focus.
Regrettably, the hitherto latent politicization of Rotaract District
elections came to an open climax during Norman’s tenure. This inevitably led to the secession of the aggrieved EDO and DELTA zones from the main fabric of the district.
When Rotr. Ime Umofiah of Uyo CB. Took over from Norman Morris for 1996/97 year, he was saddled with the initial task of resolving the district “Wahala” and bringing back to the district fold the seceding zones. This attempt failed as the two zones refused to co-operate with
him and still stayed away.
Ime’s belief in information management possibly engineered the re- packaging of the District quarterly newsletter. “The RotaLetter” from the A4 size to the tabloid size. Ime also had the credit of being the first DRR to introduce a detailed
District Directory of Clubs. However, Ime’s tenure was trailed by controversial debts and counter claims of debts.
After Ime Umofiah, came Chidi Nwannunu of Umungasi CB for
1997/98. Chidi, a very simple fellow had a lot of beautiful
programmes for his caring year. He did not believe in unrealistic
jumbo projects hence consolidated on some worthy legacies of his predecessors. Ime’s failure to bring back EDO and DELTA zones paid
off in his tenure. He produced the second edition of the District
directory and like his predecessor published the Rota-letter twice. The need to save the cost and salvage the pervading economic affronts possibly led Chidi to reduce the Newsletter from the tabloid size to A4
size. Chidi also had to his credit as being the DRR that was able to remit the highest number of club’s R.I. dues to R.I. before the
deadline and so far the first DRR in the history of the District to
record a surplus account after his tenure. Chidi not only handed over files and properties but also monetary cash.
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