Rotary International elects second African president to lead the global nonprofit
Olayinka Hakeem Babalola, a Rotary member from Nigeria, will become president of Rotary International on July 1, 2026.
During his one-year term, Babalola --- the second African to lead the global membership organization --- will focus on strengthening Rotary’s contribution to peace-building and supporting sustainable, community-led solutions that address local and global challenges and improve lives.
Babalola became involved with Rotary in 1984 through Rotaract — Rotary’s program for young professionals and students — and joined the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi in 1994. He has since held a number of leadership roles within the organization and currently serves as a trustee of ShelterBox UK, Rotary’s official project partner for disaster relief. He has also been actively involved with Rotary’s Peace Center at Makerere University in Uganda – the organization’s first on the continent.
“Rotary gives people the opportunity not only to make a difference in their communities, but also to grow through meaningful relationships, collaboration, and a deeper appreciation of different perspectives,” Babalola said. “At a time when many societies face division and uncertainty, I believe Rotary has an important role to play in building understanding, advancing peace, and creating opportunities for communities to thrive. As president, I look forward to highlighting and strengthening that impact around the world.”
As head of Rotary’s 45,000 clubs worldwide, Babalola will lead Rotary’s top priority of ending polio. Together with its Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners, Rotary has reduced polio cases by 99.9% and contributed more than US$3 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect over 3 billion children from this paralyzing disease. He has also been deeply engaged in Rotary’s polio eradication efforts, serving on the End Polio Now Countdown to History Campaign Committee and advising the Nigeria National PolioPlus Committee.
Rotary members throughout the world develop and implement sustainable, community-driven projects that fight disease, promote peace, provide clean water, support education, save mothers and children, grow local economies and protect the environment. More than US$5.5 billion has been awarded through The Rotary Foundation – Rotary’s charitable arm that helps clubs work together to perform meaningful, impactful service – to support these initiatives over the last 100 years. For information, visit rotary.org/en. Follow facebook.com/rotary or instagram.com/rotaryinternational/.