By Rita-Stella Nwojiji, Rotary Club of Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
When I joined Rotary during the 2008-09 Rotary year, I had no idea that I was stepping into a world that would profoundly shape my life and redefine my understanding of service, friendship, leadership, and hope.
At the time, I was a young widow. I had married outside my tribe and ethnicity, only to lose my husband in less than five years of marriage. I was left to raise three very young children, ages five, three, and one. Life seemed to have come to a standstill. I withdrew from social activities, became moody, and kept to myself. Although I worked as a secondary school teacher, I struggled to find joy and purpose beyond caring for my children.
Then, one ordinary day, a colleague approached me and invited me to a Rotary fellowship. That simple invitation became the turning point of my life.
That same week, that Rotary club organized a service project to provide meals for inmates at the Abakaliki Correctional Centre. I participated, not knowing that the experience would change my outlook forever. As I interacted with the inmates, I realized that no matter how difficult my own circumstances appeared, there were countless others facing even greater challenges. More importantly, I discovered that despite my pain, I still had something valuable to offer.
That day, Rotary helped me shift my focus from my own struggles to the needs of others. In serving others, I gradually found healing for myself.
I became actively involved in Rotary — one of the greatest blessings of my life.
Over the years, I have had the privilege of serving in various capacities at both the club and district level. Every responsibility challenged me to grow, broadened my perspective, and strengthened my commitment to Service Above Self.
One of the defining moments of my Rotary journey came three years later when I had the honor of serving as president of the Rotary Club of Abakaliki in 2011-12. That year, our club carried out several projects including the construction of toilet facilities and the provision of clean water to a school for the blind in a rural community in the Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. We also improved the living conditions by renovating a home for orphan babies.
These projects attracted the attention of the then First Lady of Ebonyi State, Chief (Mrs.) Josephine Elechi. She was deeply impressed that a young teacher could, through Rotary, mobilize resources to execute such life-changing projects.
She remarked that if I could accomplish so much through voluntary service while earning only a modest teacher’s salary, then I deserved greater opportunities to contribute even more to society. Through her support, I was offered employment at the National Obstetric Fistula Centre in Abakaliki, as the public relations officer, where I proudly work to this day.
When you serve humanity sincerely and diligently, humanity has a remarkable way of rewarding you.
Another unforgettable privilege was serving as team leader of a Group Study Exchange to three African countries, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Benin Republic. The exchange gave me an opportunity to become an ambassador for my country. Before our arrival, many of our hosts admitted they were apprehensive about hosting a team from Nigeria. But by the conclusion of the trip, they didn’t want us to leave. Through friendship, integrity, and genuine fellowship, we changed perceptions and built lasting relationships.
One of Rotary’s greatest gifts to me has been family. Beyond meetings, projects, and conferences, I have gained brothers, sisters, mentors, and lifelong friends across continents. My Rotary family continues to grow, enriching my life in ways I never imagined possible.
Sometimes I pause and wonder what life would have been like had that colleague never invited me to a Rotary fellowship. Today, my heart is filled with gratitude, and I remain inspired by Rotary’s enduring motto: Service Above Self.
Becoming a Rotarian is not merely joining a club, it’s becoming part of a global family committed to service, peace, goodwill, and positive change. Rotary will challenge you, inspire you, and open doors you never imagined possible. Most importantly, it will transform your life.
Come join us. The world needs more people who are willing to put Service Above Self.