Our Story
Our Journey Through the Years
Inner Wheel, with its roots in community and service, was officially founded in 1924 when Mrs. Margarette Golding took the pioneering step to become the first President of the Inner Wheel Club of Manchester, England. This was the beginning of a beautiful adventure, the heritage of the Inner Wheel organization, known and shared by every member. Looking back over the past 100 years, there are important dates and developments to remember which show the evolution of our Association and its diffusion, first in Great Britain, then worldwide.
Rotary was founded in 1905 in Chicago by Paul Harris. Wives of Rotarians later came to join the humanitarian services offered by their husbands. The Founder of Inner Wheel was Mrs. Margarette Golding, wife of Rotarian Golding of Manchester Rotary Club. A formal meeting held on 10th January 1924 and elected Mrs. Golding as President. By 1934, with the formation of more clubs, the association of Inner Wheel Clubs of Great Britain and Ireland was formed, with Mrs. Golding as President.
The earliest Rotary Clubs in Nigeria were the Rotary Club of Kano, Lagos and Ibadan. The establishment of Rotary Clubs led to the formation of Inner Wheel Clubs in Nigeria.
The first of such club was Inner Wheel Club of Lagos which was formed in 1966. The Charter date was 1st July 1967 with Mrs. Ayodeji Alakija as Charter President. The second club was Inner Wheel Club of Ikeja while the third club, Inner Wheel Club of Kano was chartered in 1980 with Mrs. Adeola Majiyagbe as Charter President.
The growth of Rotary extended to Inner Wheel with the formation of District 911 which emerged in 1984/85 with Mrs. Adeola Majiyagbe as its first District Chairman. District 912 had Mrs. Beatrice Agama as its first District Chairman. In 1985/86 with Mrs. Bisi Solaru in District 911, both Districts had the honour of Mrs. Doris Browne, the then International Inner Wheel president at their inaugurations. As of 1st July 1988, there were four Inner Wheel Districts, namely D 911, D 912, D 913 and D 914.
By 1986, Inner Wheel Nigeria became eligible to send a representative to the Board of International Inner Wheel. Mrs. Bisi Solaru became the first Nigerian Board Member in 1987/88. She was succeeded by Mrs. Adeola Majiyagbe 1988/89, Fola Onalaja 1989/90 and Beatrice Agama 1990/91 respectively.
In the 1987/88 inner Wheel year when Fola Onalaja was the District Chairman, District 913 was carved out of District 911 and Funmi Olafimihan became the first Chairman of District 913 in 1987/88 year. In the following year, a new inner wheel district of the old District 912 was formed with Mrs. Edith Okokon from Inner Wheel Club of Calabar as Chairman. In 1991/92 Inner Wheel year, the National Council of inner Wheel Clubs in Nigeria was formed and Stella Awani became Board Member as well as the President of Council, followed by Femi Oyeleke in 1992/93.
During 1993/94 Inner Wheel year, Nigeria received another International Inner Wheel President, Anita Aggrawal. Omotayo Olutoye was the then Board Member as well as President of Council. She was succeeded by Joan Ogbuehi in 1994/95.
In the 1995/96 Inner wheel year, Grace Omotosho becamne the President of Council as well as National Representative followed by Christy Okoye in 1996/97, Bukie Balogun in 1997/98, Edith Okokon 1998/99, Arinola Adenuga-Taiwo in 1999/2000, Kemi Adegbite in 2000/01; Uzumma Amaonwu 2001/02; Doyin Otuyalo 2002/03; Funmi Adesina for 2003/04; Eunice Nwankwo for 2004/05; Titi Ismail for 2005/06, Ranti Adetuberu 2006/07, Sally Unam for 2007/08; Yemisi Alatise 2008/09, Ayo Odelana 2009/10; Ngozi Adirika for 2010/11; Adedoyin Abiodun-Oredein 2011/12; Grace Adekoya for 2012/13, Ifeyinwa Ndefo 2013/14; Osenike Ajadi for 2014/15 Phebean Alade for 2015/2016; Uche Agbim 2016/17; Abimbola Sowande for 2017/18; Nnenna Opebiyi 2018/19, Adekemi Adeyemi 2019/20, Olufunmilayo Comfort Ajose for 2020/21; Monilola Bamisaiye 2021/22, Ezimma Nnabuife for 2022/23 and Zainab Ikheloa for 2023/24. Currently, Karin Uwaje is serving as National Representative and President of the National Governing Body for 2024/25.
Some of the aforementioned have had the privilege of serving on the Board of International Inner Wheel as Board Directors. They include Eunice Nwankwo, Funmi Adesina, Ranti Adetuberu, Sally Unam, Yemisi Alatise who rose to become the International Vice President in 2015/16 and the International President in 2016/2017. Others that served as Board Directors are Bakky Ngozi Adirika, Ayo Odelana, Doyin Abiodun-Oredein, Ifeyinwa Ndefo, Grace Adekoya, Phebean Alade, Uche Agbim and Nnenna Opebiyi who got elected as a Board Director for the current year at the Board of International Inner Wheel.
In the Inner Wheel Year of 2008/2009, and during the tenure of Mrs. Oluyemisi Alatise as National Representative and President of the National Governing Boday of Inner Wheel Clubs, Nigeria was privileged to host Mrs. Suzanne Nelson, who was the International Inner Wheel President for 2008/09.
When the National Council was inaugurated, members agreed to meet together at least once a year in the spirit of true friendship and to foster unity despite diverse ethnic differences The idea of the National Conference/Rally was then conceived to be rotated among the four Districts then. Presently, there are six functional Inner Wheel Districts in Nigeria namely – 911; 913; 914; 912; 910 and 916. So far, hosting of Rallies has been uninterrupted and in rotation.
At these conferences and rallies, members review the past, take vital decisions on the future of the association on National and International issues, especially on positions of the National Governing Board, nominations for International Board Directors and other International offices.
The Women for Africa Conference has been introduced and the first edition took place at a seminar held on the 9th and 10th November, 2012 and was hosted by District 911 in Lagos. It has since been held bi-annually in rotation; District 913 hosted the 2nd edition 18″- 21″ November 2014 in Ibadan, (Oyo State) while the 3rd edition was hosted by District 914 from 2nd to 5th November 2016 in Awka (Anambra State). The 4th edition took place three years after in District 911, 1st – 3rd November 2019 in Sagamu (Ogun State) while the 5th edition was hosted by District 913 from 4th – 6th November 2022 in Ibadan (Oyo State). The 6th edition will be hosted by District 914 in Enugu (Enugu State) in November 2025.