BENIN CITY – As part of its humanitarian services, the Rotary Club donated and distributed 126 wheelchairs to the physically challenged persons in Edo State at the Palace of the Oba of Benin at the weekend.

In an address, the chairman and project co-ordinator, Rotarian Linus N. Ajabor said the project involved the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, the Rotary Club of Mosman, Australia and three Benin host Rotary clubs of Ogbe, Benin and Benin Metropolitan. He said the mission of Rotary club in the donation of wheelchairs to the physically challenged was to alter their life style, their personalities, give independence, hope and also free members of their families who provide valuable aid as supportive carriers.

He added that Edo State paraded many physically challenged persons who are poor with mobility challenges and limitation. He noted that many of them poorly educated and illiterate are unable to purchase wheelchairs because of financial limitations.

Rotarian Ajabor said the Rotary Motto of “Service Above Self” seeks nothing in return apart from the satisfaction that comes in seeing the lives of others enriched, bringing hope to the dispossessed, so that they can live productive lives.

In a brief remark by the Commissioner for Special Duties in charge of Solid Minerals and Tourism, Dr. Patrick Ojebuoboh who represented the State Governor, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor said that the government was more than ready to partner with the Rotary club in rendering services to the people of Edo State.

He thanked the Rotary Club for the donation and distribution of the 126 wheelchairs to the disabled persons in the state and promised that government on its part would continue to provide the essential amenities for the benefit of the people.

The District Governor, District 9140, Rotarian Elizabeth Ogugua Nwankwu in her remark, appealed to the Federal Government to help in relaxing the tariff paid in clearing the materials that will help the less privileged members in the society, as donor countries and other people are willing to help in reducing the sufferings of the disabled persons in the society.

In a welcome address, the president of the rotary club of Benin, Rotarian, Uche Nnadi said the most outstanding impact by Rotary was in the area of humanitarian projects to stamp out the deadly and debilitating disease of polio out of the face of the earth.

He, however, enjoined the recipients not to resign themselves to a life of helplessness and doom, adding that there were many people in worse situations that have risen above the dictates of their physical challenges to attain great heights in life.

Rotarian Nnadi then called on all Rotarians and non-Rotarians to make it a point of duty to continue to contribute their time, talents and treasure towards bettering the lives of others, especially the needy and the less privileged in the society.