Nigeria’s Babalola wears big shoes at Rotary

September 6, 2025 by Gbenga Bada

One Nigerian flying the flag of Nigeria very high in his own corner is Olayinka Hakeem Babalola. The astute personality has created history after emerging as the second African to become the president of the 110-year Rotary International in the 2026-2027 Rotary year.

Rotary Public Image Coordinator, Africa Zone 22, Region 27, Ibim Semenitari, who announced the feat, said Babalola has also become the second Nigerian to lead the global humanitarian organisation. The first was the late Jonathan Babatunde Majiyagbe ( 2003 to 2004).

A member of the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi, Nigeria,  Babalola was selected by the Rotary International Board of Directors, following the resignation of SangKoo Yun over health issues. Babalola will assume office on July 1 2026.

Babalola joined Rotary in 1994, after being a Rotaractor. He was District Governor (2011-2012), Vice President of Rotary International (2019-2020), and a member of the RI Board (2018-2020). He has also played major roles on high-profile committees, such as the End Polio Now Countdown to History Campaign and Nigeria National PolioPlus, where he is an adviser.

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Babalola is an engineer and lawyer with more than 25 years’ experience in the oil and gas sector, having held senior positions with Shell PLC across four continents.

He is founder of Riviera Services Limited, oil and gas infrastructure company, and Lead and Change Consulting, an executive coaching and advisory firm.

Babalola is a member of Nigerian Society of Engineers, Institute of Safety Professionals, and Association of Change Management Practitioners.

He belongs to the Jericho Business Club in his home city of Port Harcourt, where he and his wife, Preba, reside.

A passionate Rotarian and philanthropist, Babalola supports The Rotary Foundation through a named endowment and as a member of the Arch Klumph Society. His humanitarian footprint extends to service as a trustee of ShelterBox UK and as director of Safe Blood Africa project. His service has earned him several honours, including the Africa Centennial Heroes Award, the RI Service Above Self Award, and The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service.

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