15/05/2026
The Board of Directors of the Rotary Action Group for Peace - Nigeria Chapter humbly thank your distinguished selves for making out time to share fellowship with us on Sunday, 10th May 2026.
The bi-weekly fellowship of the Chapter was called to order at 7:10pm Nigerian time, and had senior Rotary leaders, local and international Rotarians, Rotaractors and guests in attendance.
See below Meeting Summary
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• The RAGFP Nigeria Chapter held its bi-weekly meeting on 10th May 2026, chaired by Pietro, with participants from multiple Nigerian States and Districts.
• The Rotary year is winding down; leadership transitions and handovers are imminent across Districts.
• Rotarian Ibimina Daminabo Amachree was celebrated for receiving her Doctor of Philosophy degree.
• Ten individuals were announced as the inaugural Rotary Nigeria Positive Peace Icons, to be recognized at the District 9127 conference all-white party on Friday.
• Three signature programs were reviewed: the Rotary Election Observation Mission (EOM), the Four Walls and Peace Program, and the National Community Violence Reduction Program.
• The African Peace Institute (API) free training registration is ongoing; members were strongly encouraged to register.
• Gombe State is proactively addressing pre-election violence and hate speech through stakeholder engagement and sensitization.
• Edo State is hosting the District 9141 conference, where RAGFP will have a booth for visibility and outreach.
• The Specialized Positive Peace Training Workshop's final module was rescheduled to Tuesday 12th May 2026 at 11am due to the Facilitator's illness.
DISCUSSED TOPICS:
1. OPENING, WELCOME, AND HOUSEKEEPING
The meeting was called to order by Pietro after a pre-meeting happy hour. National Communications Director led the Rotary Grace and delivered housekeeping rules, reminding participants to mute when not speaking, use the chat box for pleasantries and questions, and remain courteous and concise.
• Details
o Pietro: Welcomed all participants from six Nigerian districts, noting the meeting would cover state coordinator updates, signature programs, and the Positive Peace Icons recognition.
o Dangulbi: Delivered the Rotary Grace and housekeeping rules on behalf of the absent National Secretary.
• Conclusion
o Meeting commenced with full housekeeping protocols observed.
2. CELEBRATION OF ROTARIAN IBIMINA DAMINABO AMACHREE'S PHD
Pietro invited all participants to unmute and congratulate Rotarian Ibimina Damenaba Machiri, Rivers State Peace Coordinator and District Chair of RAGFP, on her conferment of a Doctor of Philosophy degree.
• Details
o Pietro: Announced the achievement and led the group in applause.
o Multiple participants including Ire, Chinedu, Rtn. Dr. Ibadat Ranti, Maureen, Jane, Rotn. Glorious, and Innocent: Offered congratulations verbally and via chat.
• Conclusion
o The group celebrated the achievement collectively.
3. RECOGNITION AND REMARKS FROM STATE COORDINATORS AND EXECUTIVES
Pietro invited state peace coordinators and executives to deliver welcome remarks and updates.
• Details
o Dangulbi (National Communications Director): Reiterated that lack of violence does not equal absolute peace and called on members to continue working for peaceful coexistence.
o Rtn. Evelyn (Interstate Peace Coordinator / Edo State): Thanked members for their commitment and called for continued strength in impacting lives.
o Luqman (Kaduna State Peace Coordinator): Welcomed members and urged continued steadfast commitment to peace.
o OLORI BERNITHA (Lagos State Peace Co-coordinator): Welcomed all participants and acknowledged the work done and yet to be done in the Rotary year.
o PAG Kingsley (Cross River State Coordinator): Welcomed members and expressed hope for continued collaborative efforts.
o Ismail (Rotaract Assistant Liaison Director): Expressed pleasure at being present and hoped for more youthful engagement in peacebuilding.
• Conclusion
o All state coordinators reaffirmed commitment to peacebuilding as the Rotary year winds down.
4. STATE-LEVEL UPDATES FROM PEACE COORDINATORS
Edo State
• Details
o Rtn. Evelyn: Announced that Edo State is hosting the District 9141 conference. Government officials and community leaders will be in attendance, providing an opportunity to advocate for the Peace Project and Violence Reduction Program. A RAGFP booth will be set up at the conference.
• Conclusion
o Members were encouraged to visit the RAGFP booth at the District 9141 conference in Benin.
Cross River State
• Details
o PAG Kingsley: Acknowledged the Rotary year is winding down and that he has been occupied with key state matters. Efforts are ongoing to engage stakeholders and grow membership. He noted that Cross River needs increased membership and participation.
• Conclusion
o Cross River State to continue stakeholder visits and membership drives into the next Rotary year.
Delta State
• Details
o Mfon: Acknowledged that Delta State has been relatively inactive ("comatose") as the year winds down. Noted that the Rivers State District Chair has organized a RAGFP booth at the Benin conference, which Delta State looks forward to participating in.
• Conclusion
o Delta State to participate in the District conference booth display.
Kaduna State
• Details
o Luqman: Reported that an NGO focused on menstrual poverty for young girls invited RAGFP to join a sensitization session on Saturday, 16th, at 7AM, and requested partnership and pad donations for their pad bank.
• Conclusion
o Pietro suggested leveraging this avenue to amplify messages on sexual and gender-based violence and girl child protection.
FCT (Abuja)
• Details
o Rtn. Dr. Ibadat Ranti: Acknowledged that no meetings have been held in a while in Abuja. A pending project remains unexecuted. Apologized and expressed hope to organize one or two activities before the end of the Rotary year.
• Conclusion
o Pietro expressed concern about the delayed project given only six weeks remain in the Rotary year, and indicated a follow-up meeting in Abuja would be held soon.
Gombe State
• Details
o Rotn. Aderinto: Reported that Gombe State held meetings during the week to address inflammatory political language ahead of elections. Plans include writing letters to political parties, security agencies, the state government, NURTW, artisans, and visiting prisons to record testimonies of those imprisoned due to political violence.
• Conclusion
o Pietro commended the proactive approach and recommended adding student unions, universities, tertiary institutions, and the Broadcasting Commission to the list of stakeholders to be engaged.
5. UPDATE ON SIGNATURE PROGRAMS
Rotary Election Observation Mission (EOM) – 2027
• Details
o Pietro: Recalled the maiden 2023 EOM, the first time Rotary observed a Country election. The initiative was well-received, featured in Rotary International's February 2025 magazine, and widely shared on social media. A proposal and reminder mail have been sent to Rotary International for scaling, and participating in the 2027 edition. The target is for 1,000 Rotarian observers, an increase from the previous 150 observers in 2023. Funding support and grants are being sought to cover training, logistics, and other resources.
o Dr Easy: Raised a concern that in 2023, the Ogun State team was not recognized at INEC despite registration, and spent hours without being able to participate. Requested that letters be sent to all INEC state offices in advance to prevent recurrence.
o Pietro: Clarified that the issue was an administrative challenge on INEC's part regarding the movement of sensitive observer materials, not a registration failure. Highlighting that few other States experienced same, but Cross River and Lagos State eventually resolved theirs; while Ogun State could not. He however expressed hope that the issue would not recur in 2027.
• Conclusion
o Proposal submitted to RI for 2027 EOM; awaiting feedback.
o Target of 1,000 Rotarian observers set for 2027.
o Administrative coordination with INEC to be improved.
Four Walls and Peace Program
• Details
o Pietro: Described this as a specialized peace education program in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education, targeting Interact Clubs and Rotaractors, etc; covering democracy, good governance, human rights, and multiculturalism.
• Conclusion
o Program development ongoing; findings from the 2023 EOM informed its design.
National Community Violence Reduction Program
• Details
o Pietro: Described the program as being developed and implemented in partnership with the Office of the National Security Advisor. A key stakeholder conference is planned for this month, designed to align the mandates of relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) — including Humanitarian Affairs, Defense, Interior, Justice, Women Affairs, Youth Development, and Foreign Affairs — with the program's objectives. Pre-conference engagements with identified MDAs are underway.
• Conclusion
o Conference scheduling is being balanced against Rotary District conference calendars to avoid clashes.
6. CAPACITY BUILDING: SPECIALIZED POSITIVE PEACE TRAINING WORKSHOP
• Details
o Pietro: Announced that the final module of the 2026 Specialized Positive Peace Training Workshop, which was supposed to conclude the previous Friday, was postponed due to a facilitator's illness. The rescheduled date is Tuesday, 12th May 2026, at 11 AM. The module will be facilitated by a high-ranking officer from the Ashoka organization.
• Conclusion
o All registered participants were strongly urged not to miss the final module on Tuesday at 11 AM.
7. AFRICAN PEACE INSTITUTE (API) TRAINING REGISTRATION
• Details
o Pietro: Strongly encouraged all active members to register for the free African Peacebuilding Institute (API) training courses, which include: Principles of Conflict Transformation, Diversity and Social Inclusion, Climate Change and Peacebuilding, Emergency Preparedness and Response Teams, Trauma Awareness and Reconciliation, Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Digital Peacebuilding, and Gender Peacebuilding. Each course is weekly (approximately 2 hours per day, 4 weeks for 4 certifications). Certificates are globally recognized. So-far 38 active members have already been endorsed; the target is 100. Rotaractors are endorsed for free regardless of membership status. Rotarians must be active members to receive a recommendation letter.
o Chinedu: Asked whether registering for four courses simultaneously was permissible. Pietro confirmed it is fine and advised that if unable to manage all four, participants can unsubscribe from individual courses on the opening day.
o Agnes Okereke: Requested the registration link to be reshared.
o Pietro: Scanned the participant list and called out several members who had not yet registered, including Rtn. Evelyn, Jane Makama, Luqman, Rtn. Dr. Ibadat Ranti, Rotn. Aderinto, and others.
o Rtn. Mfon-ete: Shared the API registration link in the chat.
• Conclusion
o API registration link to be reshared on the active member platform after the meeting.
o Members who need recommendation letters should contact the chapter privately.
8. ROTARY NIGERIA POSITIVE PEACE ICONS RECOGNITION
• Details
o Pietro: Announced the ten inaugural Rotary Nigeria Positive Peace Icons, to be recognized at the District 9127 conference all-white party on Friday
• Conclusion
o Awardees who cannot attend in person may send a representative to receive the award on their behalf.
o The recognition program was designed to mobilize funding for national peacebuilding initiatives.
9. PROJECT STATISTICS – ONGOING AND UPCOMING PROJECTS
• Details
o Pietro: Reported that 54 community projects have been completed to date (up by 1 from the previous count, with the 2026 Specialized Positive Peace Training Workshop added). Grassroots interventions have covered 15 out of 36 states and the FCT. Ongoing projects include the Positive Peace Builder Club establishment. Upcoming projects include the API training and the key stakeholder conference.
• Conclusion
o More work is needed to expand coverage to the remaining underserved states.
10. MEMBERSHIP KITS AND CERTIFICATES
• Details
o Dangulbi: Raised that he has not received his RAGFP membership kit since 2022. Pietro clarified that five kits were sent to Sokoto State and are held by Rotariana Asabe; was directed to contact her.
o Simi: Raised that she has not received her kit or certificates for over two years. Pietro clarified that the Plateau State coordinator organized a distribution event where over 10 members received their kits; Simi had not attended due to bereavement at the time. Pietro directed her to follow up with the Plateau State coordinator.
• Conclusion
o Dangulbi to contact Rotarian Asabe for his kit in Sokoto.
o Simi to follow up with the Plateau State coordinator for her kit and certificates.
11. ANNUAL DUES RENEWAL REMINDER
• Details
o Pietro: Reminded members that the Rotary year ends next month and urged timely renewal of annual dues to sustain the Chapter's operations and planned programs.
• Conclusion
o Members encouraged to renew dues promptly and to participate actively at state branch level.
13. Motion for Adjournment and Closing Remarks
• Details
o Dangulbi: Moved the motion for adjournment.
o Rtn Olukemi: Seconded the motion.
o Ire: Delivered the final remarks, toasting to the betterment of humanity, good health, and peace in communities and the world over.
o Pietro: Officially closed the meeting and thanked all participants.
• Conclusion
o Meeting adjourned. Next meeting in two weeks.
TOGETHER, PEACE IS POSSIBLE!!!
Please visit our YouTube Channel for meeting recording: https://youtu.be/GcMJDLqWHpo
Yours in Rotary Service,
Rtn. (Dr.) Pietro Uzochukwu Macleo
* National Chairman, Rotary Action Group for Peace - Nigeria Chapter
* Technical Adviser, Rotary Action Group For Peace
* Contact: [email protected]