By Juliet Umeh

Inner Wheel District 912 Nigeria has ushered in a new era of service and humanitarian commitment with the installation of IWM Ugoeze (Queen) Debby Oluwatoyin Iko as its 19th District Chairman for the 2025–2026 Inner Wheel year.

In her acceptance speech, Iko expressed profound gratitude to God for the privilege of leadership and pledged to uphold the values of compassion, impact, and community empowerment that have long defined the Inner Wheel movement.

She said: “With deep gratitude and humility, I accept this honour. Our mission is to step up, reach out, and inspire for a better world. Together, we will make tangible differences in the lives of women, youth, and communities.”

Founded in 1924 in Manchester, United Kingdom, Inner Wheel has grown into one of the world’s largest voluntary women’s organizations, uniting more than 120,000 members across 104 countries. As the global body approaches its 102nd anniversary in January 2026, District 912 is reaffirming its role as a beacon of compassion and service in Nigeria.

Iko outlined her administration’s flagship projects, which align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Inner Wheel international theme, “Reach and Inspire for a Better World.”
These initiatives include vocational training for women in skills such as shoemaking, dressmaking, painting, event planning, and computer literacy; empowerment support through the provision of start-up tools like sewing machines and laptops; and youth development programs offering practical skills in generator repairs and vulcanising.

Other priorities include health and education interventions, such as building sick bays in public primary schools across Lagos and Ogun States, cervical cancer awareness and screenings, and strengthening club growth and outreach in education, youth empowerment, and community service.

According to her, “The theme challenges us to work harder, work smarter, and lead by example.
“Our generation must do better and greater things, and I embrace this call with sincerity.”

The immediate past District Chairman, Mrs. Abiola Aberuagba, in her valedictory speech, reflected on a year of resilience and transformational service, from equipping a school library to sponsoring cataract surgeries and establishing Nigeria’s first Inner Wheel E-Clubs.