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By Gloria Ikibah

For as long as anyone can remember, the Sir Emeka Offor Rotary Centre in Abuja has operated without electricity. Since the Rotary House was built, members have relied on generators and solar power to keep activities running. Thousands of naira have been spent on diesel over the years—money that could have gone directly towards helping communities.

But that changed as the steady hum of a newly installed transformer filled the air as members of the Rotary Club of Abuja Capital Territory gathered with officials from the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to formally power the facility. For the first time in four years, the centre now has a stable electricity supply.

The electrification and reticulation of the Rotary Centre and its surrounding park in the Idu area of the Federal Capital Territory marks a major step forward for the club. The building itself was donated by philanthropist Sir Emeka Offor, but until now it had remained without a direct power connection.

Speaking during the handover ceremony at the Rotary House, President Onome Ohwodo described the project as a significant achievement under his Legacy Star initiative. He recalled the long and sometimes challenging journey to get the centre fully connected, noting that reliable electricity would now allow the district to focus more of its resources on humanitarian work instead of fuel costs.

The project, delivered in partnership with the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, reflects Rotary’s long-standing commitment to service and community development. With the lights now on, the Rotary Centre is better equipped to support meetings, outreach programmes and other activities aimed at improving lives across the Federal Capital Territory.

He said: “For four long years, this centre lacked the lifeblood of modernity, electricity.

“It hindered its full potential and limited our service initiatives. It was clear to us that this challenge needed urgent attention.”

According to Rotarian Ohwodo, the club resolved not only to address the power deficit for its own operations but also to enhance the value of the facility to the wider community.

“As a club, we identified the need to solve this problem, not just for our benefit, but to add immense value to our community. Our event hall, a vital part of this centre, can now be utilised to its full capacity, hosting events and generating resources for our projects,” he stated.

He narrated that breakthrough came on 3 July, when the club formally wrote to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), whose Managing Director is a member of the Rotary family.

“Their acceptance to partner with us was a turning point. “We promptly notified our District Governor, 9127, of our progress, and we are grateful for the support we received”, the President said.

Ohwodo explained that the project was executed in two major phases. The first, he said was the reticulation which involved relocating a 33kV power line and clearing the right of way to install 13 poles outside the centre. The second phase was the electrification, saw the installation of a 200KV transformer, upgraded by AEDC from the club’s initial request for 100kV, alongside a substation change-over system and an energy meter.

“Now, the reticulation was such that we had the high-tension installation right in this premise, serving Baze University. And it was not serving this centre”, he stated.

He disclosed that attempts to resolve the issue had initially stalled.

“When Baze University was approached to pay for the removal because it was hazardous, they refused. So by taking care of the reticulation, we have been able to resolve conflicts between the Rotary Centre and Baze University. So in that way, we have also in a way been able to touch one of our areas of focus, which is conflict resolution.”

For him, the achievement carries both local and global significance.

“For us as a club, we felt, since we have the means and the collaboration to take care of this project, and that is what we did.

“So it is my club and myself impacting the district, while the entire Rotary impacts the world”, he noted.

According to him, in total, 25 personnel drawn from AEDC and Rotary Club of Abuja Capital Territory committed 1,650 man-hours over 11 days within a three-month period to complete the work.

He added that the financial outlay amounted to ₦44 million for the core project – including N43.75 million for the infrastructure and N250,000 for the energy meter – with an additional N1.75 million spent on the commissioning ceremony. Altogether, the project totalled N45.75 million, approximately $33,000 at the prevailing exchange rate.

Describing the moment as symbolic, the President said: “Their support has brought light to our endeavours.

“Heartfelt gratitude to AEDC, our collaborators, my dedicated action club members, the District Secretary who was always checking in with encouraging words, my District Governor who kept me on my toes, and Sir Emeka Offor, whose donation of this centre gave us the opportunity to make a lasting impact.”

In a final reflection on the day’s milestone, he summed up his feelings in simple terms: “In one word, I am very grateful.”

Representative of Sir Emeka Offor, Rt. Hon. Austin Chukwukere, reflected on what had held the centre back.

“So the only problem we had all these years is light. And today, we have commissioned this lighting project.

“So what it means is that this place will not be put to its proper use”, he said.

He spoke animatedly about the wider impact on the surrounding area.

“What it means to the environment is that activities will be attracted here. Things will keep going on here. There will be no dulling moments anymore here.

“I believe with that, it will attract many other developmental projects and programmes around here. So I think the environment will be rejoicing even as we celebrate,” he said.

Asked whether other projects were still needed beyond electrification, he was optimistic.

“You have just said it. You just said it,” he responded.

“Like I said, with the lights and with the activities that will keep going on here, it will attract a lot of other things around here. You can see the layout here is fit for purpose for a lot of things. And the only impediment he has had all these years is this light. And with this light today, all other appliances that will go with the fulfilment of the environment of this place will keep going forward.”

In his address, Managing Director of the Abuja Electricity Development Company, Engineer Engr. Chijioke Okwuokenye, described the partnership as both practical and symbolic.

“I was engaged with my president, and it said that charity begins at home.

“And we decided that one of the things we needed to do was to power the Rotary Centre because Rotary is an organisation that is dedicated to the community and to solving people’s problems. And one of our focus areas is the provision of electricity,” he explained.

He noted that the collaboration aligned with Rotary’s broader mission.

“We can be providing electricity for communities. And we have communities who do this even as a club. We have communities we are supporting both in terms of providing medical care, providing water, and providing electricity. So we felt that it was wise that we start charity at home in the light of the Rotary Centre because that on its own will go a long way to improving the livelihood of people around here”, he added.

Pointing to the wider neighbourhood, he highlighted the scarcity of infrastructure.

“As you can see, for this full stretch, apart from the school here, there is no other transformer around here that people can get supplies. So with this, we are sure that this place starts expanding, more people can come in because there is electricity, there are roads, roads are improving society”, he noted.

While the transformer has been designed primarily for the centre, he said the groundwork has been laid for expansion, and revealed that securing the right-of-way proved to be the most significant hurdle.

“The transformer has been sized to carry the demand of the Rotary Centre. But with the line now that has been properly erected, we can now start expanding. So the intention is to expand this, put transformers that would also take the public. But the first thing was to get the line done. That was really the biggest challenge, getting the line done.

“There wasn’t a proper right-of-way that was created. So we had to engage with FCTA, establish the proper right-of-way and then we were able to put the line”, he stated.

For District Governor of Rotary International District 9127, Rotarian Joy Okoro, the commissioning was deeply personal.

“How do I feel today? I feel great. I feel so satisfied even though I’m not eating.

“Because this is something I have been expecting over the years, to have this building and we have no electricity,” she said with a smile.

She recalled the practical and financial strain of operating without power, and added that with electricity now in place, the centre can finally fulfil its purpose.

“When we want to have an occasion here, we go to get generators, we go to rent generators. It’s a lot of money. And most times we don’t have the event because it’s not possible to rent generators and start functioning.

“It’s like God has had a cry that this edifice will continuously be used. And out of that, as Rotarians, we can make some money here by renting it out to other persons, corporate bodies, individuals. So I think as a Rotarian, to make use, I would make this highly, highly recommended”, the District Governor said.

Looking ahead, she expressed hopes for further improvements.

“Yes, I’m looking at getting the Water Board to redeclare this place with underground water. Already we have a borehole here that a Rotary Club gave about five years ago. It’s still functioning. But if we have from the mainstream, FCT Water Board, we will be able to say yes, we are complete. We have water, we have pipes. So everything will fall in place.”

With the switch finally flipped, the Rotary Centre stands not just illuminated, but empowered ready to serve as a vibrant hub for service, fellowship and community impact in the nation’s capital.

For many present, the moment was more than ceremonial. It marked the end of a long-standing challenge that had left the imposing edifice underused and, at times, abandoned once dusk fell.