Nigeria’s corporate giant and elder statesman, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye has been conferred with the prestigious “service above self” award, Rotary’s highest individual honour
The presentation took place on Saturday May 9 at the district’s conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The award recognises his more than five decades of dedicated service, including being the highest single individual donor to Rotary District 9111’s polio eradication initiatives across Nigeria.
The award granted to only a select few Rotarians globally each year, comes as Rotary intensifies efforts to close the final chapters of polio transmission across the world.
Polio programme
Since launching the Polioplus programme in 1985, Rotary International has mobilised volunteers, raised billions of dollars, and partnered with governments, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and others under the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
The effort has reduced polio cases by more than 99.9% globally with Africa certified free of wild poliovirus in 2020, a milestone made possible through relentless vaccination campaigns, surveillance, and community engagement, in which Nigerian Rotarians have played a frontline role.
Chief Osunkeye’s sustained contributions have directly powered District 9111’s polio immunisation drives, outreach programmes, and supportive health infrastructure projects, helping protect millions of Nigerian children from this debilitating disease.
Representing Rotary International President Rotarian Francesco Arezzo, Past District Governor Rotarian Francisco Ssemwanga from Uganda delivered a stirring address that underscored Africa’s rising influence in Rotary while calling for greater accountability.
“African Rotarians must continue to push their weight amongst the global community of Rotarians, especially ahead of this significant year for the African Rotary family,” Ssemwanga declared.
“We must care for one another and ensure that our donations are followed up rigorously so that their impact becomes sustainable and far-reaching.”
District Governor Prince Henry Akinyele, who formally presented the award, praised Chief Osunkeye’s extraordinary legacy and urged others to follow his example.
“Chief Osunkeye’s remarkable strides in service to humanity, especially through donations to activities of this district are legacies worth celebrating,”he said.
“His contributions have not only strengthened our district but have helped make us .”
Not a personal achievement
In his acceptance speech, Osunkeye expressed deep gratitude and renewed the call for service.
I accept this award, not as a personal achievement but as a recognition of the efforts of those who have journeyed with me”, he said.
O”The challenges confronting our world today, poverty, illiteracy, diseases and social division remind us that service to humanity is no longer optional, it is an important imperative.”
A Past President of the Rotary Club of Ikeja, Chief Osunkeye has blended corporate leadership with impactful philanthropy.
Osunkeye’s profile
He was the first Nigerian Managing Director and CEO of Nestlé Nigeria Plc, and chairman of several major corporations. A recipient of the national honours of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) and Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), the conferment of the “Service Above Self” Award reflects his impact across Nigeria’s socio-economic circles.
The Rotary District 9111 conference which serves as a celebration and strategic rallying point for Rotarians also witnessed a panel session on polio eradication and a keynote address by Dr. Tim Akano, who spoke on reimagining Service and Purpose by putting humanity first.