Zonta International was introduced to Ibadan in 1970 by Dorothy Thompson of Toronto Club, Canada. She was assisted by Bola Williams in organizing the Ibadan Club and in selecting the Charter members.
The first General Meeting of the Ibadan Club was held at the Vice Chancellor's Lodge, University of Ibadan on Thursday, 4thJune 1970. Dinah Lambo, Headmistress of All Saints Church School, Ibadan wife of the Vice Chancellor University of Ibadan was elected the Charter President. At that meeting, the Club dues were fixed at £5.14.0.1£5.00 for Club finances and 14s.Od (equivalent of $2.00) for headquarters due.
The Charter for the Ibadan Club waspresented by the International President, Helvi Sipila of Helsinki, Finland at a Banquet at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan on 23"June 1970.
Ibadan has a large University and its Zonta Club President, who was a Director of a School, was married to the University's Vice Chancellor. That was why the University was, to a great extent, the centre for the activities during the Charter Day. The Board was invited to a welcoming party and delicious luncheon at the home of the President, Dinah Lambo, who was born in Britain.
Adeyola David and two other Zontians who had accompanied me along the long and difficult road from Lagos in order to be present at the banquet, had the pleasure of staying in the University Guest House.
One of the highlights was the official reception given by Olubadan, the king of Ibadan, which the entire Board attended, a gift was presented by the king to the President of ZONTA INTERNATIONAL.
The Zonta Club of Ibadan was a very International one and has in its membership a former Zontian from St. Paul, Minnesota, who was a German by birth. VIPs, friends and husbands formed the large group of guests who witnessed the presentation of the Charter in the evening
There were 41 Chater members. Some of them were: Zontians Dinah Larnbo, the Chater Vice President, Past President, First Governor, District XVIII and a Past international President: Zontian Elfridad Adebo; Zontian Funmbi Akinnola, a past President; Zontian Sati Chheda a Past Vice President; Zontian Funke Egunjobi ;Zontian Remi Owoade Zontian Titi Mabogunje; a Past President; Zontian Omotayo Morgan; a Past President Zontian Adetoun Ogunsheye; Zontain Oyin Olurin, a Past President; Zontian Oludayisi Oduntan; Zontian Rachael Olatubosun a Past President; Zontain Omotola Oyediran, a Past President, a Past President; Zontian Bola Williams, Late Zontian Tunde Adeniyi Williams, Zontian Francis Adebanjo-now a member of Lagos club II, Zontian Dolly Dastor - a member of one the Canadian clubs, Zontian Almut Dettmers and Zontian Aderemi Ogunlana, a past president
At the early stages, Club meetings were held at 5:30 at the Sultan Bello hall University of Ibadan .Later, the meetings shifted to the Senior common room, Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan Dinner meetings were held on "ceremonial" occasions it was later found that the late afternoon meetings were not convenient for most members, so the time was changed to 7:30pm and the venue shifted to Premier Hotel.
There were a Couple of Guest Speakers at the early stages, the first was Late Chief (Mrs) Wuraola Esan, the first Nigerian woman senator and mother of Zontian Jadesola Akande, a past Governor of District XVIII, who addressed the club on 3rd December 1970 on the progress of Education for women in Nigeria".
Others were Mrs. Katie Oruwariye and Professor A.O Lucas, then Professor and Head of Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Ibadan. He gave the Club an insight into the role a voluntary organization could play in the rural areas His department rendered a great assistance to the club in making a choice of service project in the rural area.
The reason for the club wanting to go to the rural area was that all the voluntary organizations concentrated their aids on the Handicapped in the city to the neglect of the rural areas. After a lot of consideration, the choice of "Apoku po mo 'yawo' Village (Apoku for short) was made in 1972. At that time almost everybody in the village had guinea worm and this was traced to the drinking water which was flowing stream.
The club sunk two wells for the villages and since using these wells guinea worm had been completely eradicated in the village. Attention was later turned to the school children and they were provided with First Air Box, Books and Stationeries and Mid-day meals. Until a few years ago the club used to host a New Year's Party for the children in January every year
The adults were encouraged to be self-sufficient and were involved in a maize project through the assistance received by the club from the Extension Services of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ibadan.
The Club built a block of classrooms for the school children. This was handed over to the village community in April 1983 at a ceremony during District XVIII's Biennial Conference at which the then International President, Cornelia Hodges was present.
The Club's services did not end with Apoku Village. The very first act of service rendered by the Club waste litter bins were later presented, to the Mokola market. There were visitations with donations of toys to the. children's wards of Adeoyo Hospital and University College Hospital at Christmas time
The Club awarded a Secondary School Scholarship to a girl from Oluyole Cheshire Home who was a pupil of St. Louis Grammar School, Ibadan. Various donations were made in cash and in kind to the Catholic Hospital, Eleta, Ibadan; Oni Memorial Children Hospital, Ring Road Ibadan; Home for Handicapped Children and School for the Deaf and Dumb. Accommodation was provided for VVF out-patients of the University College Hospital. The Club sold soft drinks at UCH as a service to the out-patients.
The Club's first Fund-Raising activity was a 'Zontian Ball" held at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan on Friday, 24 November 1972. This was followed, the following year by a Fun Fair on the grounds of the International School University of Ibadan. Since then, the Club had held a number of "Zontian Balls" usually in November to commemorate Zonta Day.
In 1977, the Ibadan Club held a Symposium at the Conference Centre, University of Ibadan on the aspects of the Draft Constitution of Nigeria that affected women and children. Dorothy Thompson visited lbadan Club in 1980, 10 years after receiving the Charter. A special dinner was held in her honour. Below is and extract from the letter she wrote to the President.
The party was delightful. What a thrill it was to see so many of the Charter members and so many distinguished women added to a club already noted for its member's prominence in professional life.
Zontians were happy to meet the men, women and children from the adopted village. They were unspoiled, friendly, asking to hold hands of the international representatives and other expartriates. Ibadan Club was the first Club in District XVIII to have a Z Club – Z Club of St. Louis Grammar School; Z Club of International School, St. Theresa's College and a Golden Z Club at the University of Ibadan had since been added to this.
The Club participates in several Regional/District Conferences and International Conventions. The Club hosted the 6th District XVIII Biennial Confererence in Ibadan in April 1983. The status of the Clubs in Africa changed from that of a Region to a District in 1982 and Ibadan Club had the singular honour of having one of her members in the person of Zontian Folake Solanke, SAN as the first District XVIII Governor, Zorntian Folake Solanke, SAN later served as a member of Zonta International Foundation Board. She was elected International President at the Hong Kong Convention in July 1992 and served as International President in the 1994/96 Biennium.
The Club also had the honour of having Dr (Mrs.) Tejumade Alakija, CFR as an Honorary Zontian. She was a Guest Speaker at one of the Zontian Balls. She addressed the Club on "The Working Woman in Africa: The Challenges and the Dilemma", The Club in 1989 also honoured four distinguished Women in Ibadan City, Professor Bolale Awe - Chief (Mrs.) Fola Akintunde- Ighodalo; Chief (Mrs.) Ordugba and Alhaja S. Adekola for the rolls they played in uplifting and improving the status of women in the country.
The Club took the lease of a property at Baale Oyewole road, Jericho Iyaganku Reservation Area of Ibadan during the 1990/92 Biennum. A complex consisting of of two halls (500 and 100 seat capacities) have since been erected on the land. monthly meetings, seminars, conferences and trainings are regularly organised for local women in the halls.
"ZONTA HOUSE". The venue of the meeting of the club shifted to the 'ZONTA HOUSE". A section of it was used as the Club's Training Centre for young women. This is another project of the Club. The whole idea was that, in view of the unemployment in the country, the girls would be trained in vocations that they could practice on their own with little capital to make them self-sufficient. They were trained in weaving, "Tie and Dye" and Horticulture.
In line with the theme of PIP Solanke, SAN on Women's Health during her International Presidency in 1994/96, the Club, with the assistance of the Local Council at Iyana-Ofa, a small town on the outskirts of Ibadan, established a centre for the screening of women for breast and cervical cancer. The Osaka Club, Japan made a cash donation to the Club. This was utilized to build a library for a secondary school in Ibadan. Zonta International was introduced to Ibadan in 1970 by Dorothy Thompson of Toronto Club, Canada. She was assisted by Bola Williams in organizing the Ibadan Club and in selecting the Charter members.
The first General Meeting of the Ibadan Club was held at the Vice Chancellor's Lodge, University of Ibadan on Thursday, 4thJune 1970. Dinah Lambo, Headmistress of All Saints Church School, Ibadan wife of the Vice Chancellor University of Ibadan was elected the Charter President. At that meeting, the Club dues were fixed at £5.14.0.1£5.00 for Club finances and 14s.Od (equivalent of $2.00) for headquarters due. The Charter for the Ibadan Club waspresented by the International President, Helvi Sipila of Helsinki, Finland at a Banquet at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan on 23"June 1970.
Ibadan has a large University and its Zonta Club President, who was a Director of a School, was married to the University's Vice Chancellor. That was why the University was, to a great extent, the centre for the activities during the Charter Day. The Board was invited to a welcoming party and delicious luncheon at the home of the President, Dinah Lambo, who was born in Britain. Adeyola David and two other Zontians who had accompanied me along the long and difficult road from Lagos in order to be present at the banquet, had the pleasure of staying in the University Guest House.
One of the highlights was the official reception given by Olubadan, the king of Ibadan, which the entire Board attended, a gift was presented by the king to the President of ZONTA INTERNATIONAL. The Zonta Club of Ibadan was a very International one and has in its membership a former Zontian from St. Paul, Minnesota, who was a German by birth. VIPs, friends and husbands formed the large group of guests who witnessed the presentation of the Charter in the evening.
There were 41 Chater members. Some of them were: Zontians Dinah Larnbo, the Chater Vice President, Past President, First Governor, District XVIII and a Past international President: Zontian Elfridad Adebo; Zontian Funmbi Akinnola, a past President; Zontian Sati Chheda a Past Vice President; Zontian Funke Egunjobi ;Zontian Remi Owoade Zontian Titi Mabogunje; a Past President; Zontian Omotayo Morgan; a Past President Zontian Adetoun Ogunsheye; Zontain Oyin Olurin, a Past President; Zontian Oludayisi Oduntan; Zontian Rachael Olatubosun a Past President; Zontain Omotola Oyediran, a Past President, a Past President; Zontian Bola Williams, Late Zontian Tunde Adeniyi Williams, Zontian Francis Adebanjo-now a member of Lagos club II, Zontian Dolly Dastor - a member of one the Canadian clubs, Zontian Almut Dettmers and Zontian Aderemi Ogunlana, a past president
At the early stages, Club meetings were held at 5:30 at the Sultan Bello hall University of Ibadan .Later, the meetings shifted to the Senior common room, Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan Dinner meetings were held on "ceremonial" occasions it was later found that the late afternoon meetings were not convenient for most members, so the time was changed to 7:30pm and the venue shifted to Premier Hotel. There were a Couple of Guest Speakers at the early stages, the first was Late Chief (Mrs) Wuraola Esan, the first Nigerian woman senator and mother of Zontian Jadesola Akande, a past Governor of District XVIII, who addressed the club on 3rd December 1970 on the progress of Education for women in Nigeria". Others were Mrs. Katie Oruwariye and Professor A.O Lucas, then Professor and Head of Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Ibadan.
He gave the Club an insight into the role a voluntary organization could play in the rural areas His department rendered a great assistance to the club in making a choice of service project in the rural area. The reason for the club wanting to go to the rural area was that all the voluntary organizations concentrated their aids on the Handicapped in the city to the neglect of the rural areas. After a lot of consideration, the choice of "Apoku po mo 'yawo' Village (Apoku for short) was made in 1972. At that time almost everybody in the village had guinea worm and this was traced to the drinking water which was flowing stream.
The club sunk two wells for the villages and since using these wells guinea worm had been completely eradicated in the village. Attention was later turned to the school children and they were provided with First Air Box, Books and Stationeries and Mid-day meals. Until a few years ago the club used to host a New Year's Party for the children in January every year
The adults were encouraged to be self-sufficient and were involved in a maize project through the assistance received by the club from the Extension Services of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ibadan. The Club built a block of classrooms for the school children. This was handed over to the village community in April 1983 at a ceremony during District XVIII's Biennial Conference at which the then International President, Cornelia Hodges was present.
The Club's services did not end with Apoku Village. The very first act of service rendered by the Club waste litter bins were later presented, to the Mokola market. There were visitations with donations of toys to the. children's wards of Adeoyo Hospital and University College Hospital at Christmas time
The Club awarded a Secondary School Scholarship to a girl from Oluyole Cheshire Home who was a pupil of St. Louis Grammar School, Ibadan. Various donations were made in cash and in kind to the Catholic Hospital, Eleta, Ibadan; Oni Memorial Children Hospital, Ring Road Ibadan; Home for Handicapped Children and School for the Deaf and Dumb. Accommodation was provided for VVF out-patients of the University College Hospital. The Club sold soft drinks at UCH as a service to the out-patients.
The Club's first Fund-Raising activity was a 'Zontian Ball" held at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan on Friday, 24 November 1972. This was followed, the following year by a Fun Fair on the grounds of the International School University of Ibadan. Since then, the Club had held a number of "Zontian Balls" usually in November to commemorate Zonta Day.
In 1977, the Ibadan Club held a Symposium at the Conference Centre, University of Ibadan on the aspects of the Draft Constitution of Nigeria that affected women and children. Dorothy Thompson visited lbadan Club in 1980, 10 years after receiving the Charter. A special dinner was held in her honour. Below is and extract from the letter she wrote to the President. The party was delightful. What a thrill it was to see so many of the Charter members and so many distinguished women added to a club already noted for its member's prominence in professional life.
Zontians were happy to meet the men, women and children from the adopted village. They were unspoiled, friendly, asking to hold hands of the international representatives and other expartriates. Ibadan Club was the first Club in District XVIII to have a Z Club – Z Club of St. Louis Grammar School; Z Club of International School, St. Theresa's College and a Golden Z Club at the University of Ibadan had since been added to this. The Club participates in several Regional/District Conferences and International Conventions.
The Club hosted the 6th District XVIII Biennial Confererence in Ibadan in April 1983. The status of the Clubs in Africa changed from that of a Region to a District in 1982 and Ibadan Club had the singular honour of having one of her members in the person of Zontian Folake Solanke, SAN as the first District XVIII Governor, Zorntian Folake Solanke, SAN later served as a member of Zonta International Foundation Board. She was elected International President at the Hong Kong Convention in July 1992 and served as International President in the 1994/96 Biennium.
The Club also had the honour of having Dr (Mrs.) Tejumade Alakija, CFR as an Honorary Zontian. She was a Guest Speaker at one of the Zontian Balls. She addressed the Club on "The Working Woman in Africa: The Challenges and the Dilemma", The Club in 1989 also honoured four distinguished Women in Ibadan City, Professor Bolale Awe - Chief (Mrs.) Fola Akintunde- Ighodalo; Chief (Mrs.) Ordugba and Alhaja S. Adekola for the rolls they played in uplifting and improving the status of women in the country.
The Club took the lease of a property at Baale Oyewole road, Jericho Iyaganku Reservation Area of Ibadan during the 1990/92 Biennum. A complex consisting of of two halls (500 and 100 seat capacities) have since been erected on the land. monthly meetings, seminars, conferences and trainings are regularly organised for local women in the halls.
"ZONTA HOUSE". The venue of the meeting of the club shifted to the 'ZONTA HOUSE". A section of it was used as the Club's Training Centre for young women. This is another project of the Club. The whole idea was that, in view of the unemployment in the country, the girls would be trained in vocations that they could practice on their own with little capital to make them self-sufficient. They were trained in weaving, "Tie and Dye" and Horticulture.
In line with the theme of PIP Solanke, SAN on Women's Health during her International Presidency in 1994/96, the Club, with the assistance of the Local Council at Iyana-Ofa, a small town on the outskirts of Ibadan, established a centre for the screening of women for breast and cervical cancer. The Osaka Club, Japan made a cash donation to the Club. This was utilized to build a library for a secondary school in Ibadan.
