Olayinka Hakeem Babalola, a distinguished member of the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt, has been selected to serve as the President of Rotary International for the 2026-27 calendar year. His one-year term will officially begin on July 1, 2026, following a decision by the Board of Directors during a special session. The leadership change comes after the resignation of President-elect SangKoo Yun, who stepped aside to focus on recovery from recent cancer treatment.
Babalola’s Rotary journey began in 1988 as a Rotaractor, before joining the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi six years later. Over the decades, he has held several influential positions within the organization, including District Governor (2011-12), Vice President of Rotary International (2019-20), and member of the RI Board (2018-20). He has also contributed significantly to global campaigns, serving on the End Polio Now Countdown to History Campaign Committee (2017-23) and continuing as an adviser to the Nigeria National PolioPlus Committee.
Outside Rotary, Babalola has built an accomplished professional career. An engineer by training and attorney by qualification, he spent over 25 years in the oil and gas sector, working in senior roles with Shell PLC and overseeing projects across four continents. He later founded Riviera Services Ltd., an oil and gas infrastructure firm, and Lead and Change Consulting, a coaching and organizational advisory company. His affiliations span the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Institute of Safety Professionals, and the Association of Change Management Practitioners.
His dedication to service is further reflected in his philanthropic and humanitarian efforts. Babalola is a trustee of ShelterBox UK, a director of the Safe Blood Africa project, and a strong supporter of The Rotary Foundation, where he is recognized as a member of the Arch Klumph Society with a named endowment. Over the years, he has received several prestigious honors, including the Africa Centennial Heroes Award, the Regional Service Award for a Polio-Free World, the Service Above Self Award, and The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service.
Babalola resides in Port Harcourt with his wife, Preba, and remains deeply engaged in community and professional initiatives. As Rotary International president, he will provide inspirational leadership to the global network, visiting clubs worldwide to promote Rotary’s values of service, fellowship, and peace. His election marks a proud moment for Nigeria, further solidifying the nation’s presence in the leadership of one of the world’s most impactful humanitarian organizations.
