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  • Lions Club chieftain restates commitment to charity

    Lions Club chieftain restates commitment to charity

    International First Vice President of Lions Clubs, Fabricio Oliveira has restated the commitment of the foremost global club to philanthropy.

    Oliviera, who is on a five-day visit to Nigeria made the remarks during a press briefing held in Lagos on Friday.

    He said the clubs have done so much in the intervention in public health, youth development, and provision of basic amenities across the country.

    ”Our association since its founding in 1917 has become the largest service organisation in the World. Our focus areas have centered primarily on blindness prevention and sight preservation. We are also involved with the development of the youth. We care for the environment. We are actively engaged in Diabetes treatment and prevention. We are also concerned with Childhood Cancer prevention and Hunger prevention.

    ”Lions Clubs International started the first Clubs in Nigeria in 1964. Since then, we have not looked back on serving, the poor, the needy, and the underprivileged in our different communities.

    Read Also: Lions Club gifts journalists free glasses in Lagos

    ”We have footprints of service and projects all over Nigeria. We constructed the largest and most modern Motherless Babies Home in Lekki, Lagos. We have constructed Eye centers at General Hospital, Isolo, Lagos State, State Hospital, Ota, Ogun State, State Hospital, Asubiaro, Oshogbo, and Osun State among several others. In the area of Diabetes education and prevention, we have constructed Diabetes centres and have undertaken Diabetes screening in different parts of the country. We constructed and furnished Diabetes Screening Centers at the Alimosho General Hospital, Igando, Lagos State, The University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, as well as the Ring Road Hospital, Ring Road Ibadan, Oyo State. The results of our efforts have been heightened awareness and better knowledge of Diabetes, even among those not so well educated.” 

    He added: ”We constructed a Cancer Screening center at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos State. We have built special apartments to house relations of patients who come to Hospitals for Cancer care and treatment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi Araba, Lagos as well as the Federal Medical Center, Ebute Metta, Lagos. We are presently renovating the Children’s Cancer Award at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar

    ”This trip to Nigeria affords me and the leadership of our association to meet with Lions of Nigeria and Ghana. Over the next three days, we will discuss ways of growing our membership and reenergizing service activities. We assess the needs of communities for our Clubs to serve them better.”

  • Lions Club gifts journalists free glasses in Lagos

    Lions Club gifts journalists free glasses in Lagos

    No fewer than 100 journalists have benefited from free eye screening and free glasses courtesy of Lions International Multiple District 404, Nigeria.

    The beneficiaries were drawn from print, electronic, and online media organisations and platforms.

    The event was held at the Oranmiyan Hall, Lagos Airport Hotel on Tuesday as part of the commemorative 10th year Lions memorial service for the late District Governor of the club, PDG Yinka Bolarinwa.

    In his welcome address, the chairman of the Planning Committee, Dr. Jide Bello said the event was organized to celebrate the late Bolarinwa for his selfless dedication to the club and outstanding sense of charity that earned him the honour as the best district governor in the world shortly before his death.

    Read Also: Lions Clubs 404B3 flags-off free diabetes screening for less-privileged

    “In remembering PDG Bolarinwa, we recall a trailblazer, who with tremendous commitment championed the mantle of leadership and left an indelible mark on Lionism. His proactive and innovative spirit and an out-of-space appetite for excellence reshaped our Lions community’s landscape,” Bello said.

    The event also featured tributes to the deceased past district governor of the club, who was described as an icon in his lifetime.

  • Africa eyes Lions Club top seat

    Lions Club International (LCI) has commended Africa for its active growth and contributions to the humanitarian cause as espoused by the philosophy of the international organisation. Chairperson Lions Club International Foundation Dr Naresh Aggarwal, said it would not be a bad idea if Africa, going by its input in LCI over the years, is granted an autonomy status otherwise called a ‘Constitutional Area’ (CA).

    According to LCI’s modus operandi, CA automatically confers on Africa the right to have a permanent seat represented by a director on the LCI board who may choose to contend for the group’s international president.

    Dr Aggarwal spoke at LCI District 404 Ikorodu, shortly after the organisation laid the sod for a 35-bed dialysis centre at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) last week.

    The proposed facility, valued at N210 million is christened: ‘Lion Isaac Olusola Dialysis Centre’ and named after Isaac Olusola, a former LCI district governor under whose tenure the proposed project was mooted before he unfortunately passed on in July 2017.

    Aggarwal said LCI targets about 300 million dollars within three years to meet up with its five-pronged mandate- diabetic, pediatric cancer, vision, environment and fighting hunger. He therefore urged LCI members in Africa to surpass their usual gesture by ensuring the lions’ share of the proposed budget comes from Africa.

    “Africa is the centre of attraction today,” Aggawal began.We have lots of potentials in Africa. That’s where we are working to give them independent status of a constitution area. That is why they (Africans) too have been dangerously giving; and this accounts for why we also have to do our best for them in this respect.”

    Read Also: Lions Club screens 150 for diabetes

    Aggarwal expressed his excitement that in Africa alone, LCI has over seven million membership spread across over 4000 clubs. “The offices are very active which is why I’m quite excited about,” he added.

    He stressed that membership and their significant contributions both play a role in how a continent gets more prominent. Aggawal therefore enjoined African members to improve on the two aforementioned factors since bidding for the post of international president amid other contenders is all a game of numbers.

    Corroborating Aggarwal, Hammed Olugbenga Lawal, past international director of Lions Club, and chartered President of Ikorodu Lions Club in 1982/83, noted that the crusade is to galvanise more membership in Africa.

    “We (Africans) are ripe enough to contend for international president,” said Lawal an engineer who is also eyeing LCI international presidency. He continued: “It’s a game of competition.  If you are putting in your quota, naturally, you are expected to rise to a position of leadership one day and that is an inalienable right of every African.

    “At present, we (Africans) are merged with India, Southeast Asia and Middle East, but it’s easier to (bid for the international presidency) the moment African becomes a Constitutional Area

    “Africa has grown in number over the years, and with that we may be granted a CA which means having a permanent seat of the board with effect from next year. Should that happen, that means there will always be one director from Africa from that board and comes with other entitlements from Africa. With this, we can be able to present an international president for the board. This is by rotation though, and once a CA is granted, it will someday come to the turn of African to present a candidate.”

    Lami Ahmed current council chairperson said LCI operates 36 percent of women involvement.

    “We are always raising funds because the needs are never met all the time,” she said, noting that the major challenge of LCI in Africa is finance.

    “We have finance and exposure, (as challenges), so we are sensitising more people to join us. The more we are; the better in sensitising the community,” she added.

  • Lions Club sponsors girl’s eye surgery

    The Ilupeju Lions Club has sponsored an eye surgery for three-year-old Alimat Ibrahim.

    The President of the club, Babatunde Raji, said Alimat had not seen since she was born.

    He said the gesture, which costs N750,000, was to enable Alimat regain her sight.

    Speaking at the weekend, at Eye Foundation Hospital, Ikeja, after the successful operation on Alimat, Raji said the period which the family came to the club and when the operation took place was within three weeks.

    Lions Club District Governor for District 404 B2 Nigeria, Dupe Dada appreciated Lions Club Ilupeju for the gesture.

    “Our major priority is the vision and this is our core area particularly when it comes to medical. We believe that the government cannot do it all alone and that is why we take it as our own responsibility to save souls. At the same time, we can only implore other persons to come and join us to help the needy,” he said.

    Alimat mother, Khadijat Ibrahim, a trader, thanked the club for coming to their aid.

    “We have been to different hospitals but we were told nothing could be done until we got to Eye Foundation Hospital that assured us that Alimat would regain her sight.

    “Since birth, Alimat could not see with the eyes. Lions Club Ilupeju came to our rescue and we appreciated what they have done,” she said.

    Former Chief Editing Assistant, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Grandfather to Alimat, Taiwo Ishola said the family had been to different hospitals and had done several tests but to no avail.

    He said they had spent over N200,000 and were eventually referred to Eye Foundation but the family could not afford the cost of the operation.

    “I wrote letters for financial assistance to several individuals and organisations but all were to no avail. As a family, we appreciate what this club has done and we thank God that the operation was successful,” he said.

  • Ilupeju Diamond Lions Club hosts free diabetes screening

    The Ilupeju Diamond Lions Club yesterday held a free diabetes screening on the premises of Lagos Television also known as LTV 8, at Ikeja, Lagos.

    As early as 10am, the club members had gathered at Combo Hall located within the premises in preparation for the day’s health exercise.

    Present at the event was District Governor for Lions Club District 404B 2 Nigeria, Lion Dupe Dada, who commended the President of the Club, Lion Toyin Igbinoba, and the other members for their unity and commitment towards the care of the people in the larger society.

    The District Governor urged the workers at the television station and all others that had gathered at Combo Hall to take the advantage of the medical exercise to know their health status.

    One after the others, people from different departments of the television station and other invited guests took part in the free medical exercise.

    Speaking later to newsmen on the exercise, the President of the Ilupeju Diamonds Lions Club expressed the reason for the club’s gesture to the general public.

    “As you can see, what we did today was to hold a blood sugar screening exercise to ascertain those who have the excess in their bodies and suggest treatments for them,” the President said.

    Lion Toyin Igbinoba said the diabetic screening exercise is one of the programmes of Lionism for this year.

    She said:”In Lionism, we have five global focal activities for the year. This is one of them and a major one at that. We are always thinking of the next level at Lionism. Recently we were at LASUTH where we made some donations.

  • Lions Club screens 150 for diabetes

    The International Association of Lions Clubs, Ilupeju Lions Club, in conjunction with Odi-Olowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Association (LCDA), has screened 150 people for diabetes.

    The beneficiaries also had free medical check-up.

    According to the President of Ilupeju Lions Club, Babatunde Raji, the gesture was to bridge the gap for government and “it is our way to reach out to people to enable them know their diabetes status. We have reached out to over 150 people who came for the screening exercise, they had their blood pressure checked and they had the diabetic screening. Those with high sugar level were immediately referred to the hospital for further treatment.”

    Raji added: “It is said that health is wealth, some of those who came here today were diabetic and they did not know. By knowing their status, they would now be able to manage themselves better.

    “We also held a seminar on how to manage ones heath generally. How to prevent diabetes and how those who have diabetes can manage it. This is an important exercise because knowledge is wealth, if you are aware of what is happening within your body, you will be able to manage it effectively.”

    The LCDA’s Supervisor for Health, Adebola Obale, described the health programme as fantastic.

    “It is part of our agenda right from when we were campaigning that the health of those in the community would improve. On our own, we sponsored several health missions and in like manner, we welcome any group that is bringing the same into our community for the benefit of our people, we are happy about this.”

    Zam Zam Health Trust Medical Director Dr Femi Akinlade, taught the participants how to manage diabetes, urging them to reduce the intake of sugar.

    He urged diabetic patients to always seek proper medical counselling.

  • Lions Club refurbishes cancer ward in LASUTH

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Ilupeju Diamond Lions Club has refurbished female Oncology ward at the female surgical unit in the Lagos Teaching University Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, Lagos.

    The Club also donated drugs to paediatric cancer patients. The gestures were to use to commemorate the World Paediatric Cancer Day holds every February 15,

    The refurbished Oncology room now has television, air conditioner, refrigerator, four beds and other amenities.

    Recipients of the free drugs are Ololade Olayinka, Precious Pius-Mana and Chiwendu Ndukwe who are currently undergoing treatment at the Paediatric ward.

    President of the club, Toyin Igbenoba, said the initiative was to help cancer patients and creates a conducive environment for their treatments.

    She further implored individuals, government and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) to ensure their continued support towards creating a cancer-free environment.

    She said: “As a cancer survivor, I know the excruciating pains cancer patients go through, but to also live in an unfavourable condition will no doubt double the pain, hence the reason we decided to embark on this project. The cost of cancer drugs is high, that’s why we decided to help some of the patients with the drugs,” Igbenoba said.

    LASUTH Chief Medical Director Prof Adetokunbo Fabamwo, hailed the club.

    “There has been a complete transformation here in this ward. I know what it used to be before, and we want to appreciate what the Lions Club has done for us.  For a government hospital like ours, we need all the support we can get from private sectors, NGOs because the government cannot do everything. We implore other individuals and organisations to imbibe the initiative.”

    A member of the club’s Board of Directors, Alhaja Nafisat Arogundade, prayed that the facility would reduce the sufferings of the patients.

    Alhaja Arogundade said: “We just want to get personally committed to making sure that we are able to touch the lives of the people living with cancer, by not just educating them on the prevention and control of the disease but also creating awareness to everyone.

    “Cancer is a deadly disease and government cannot do it alone but our message to the government is that we should also get the necessary equipment needed to treat it here so that Nigerians will stop spending so much to travel abroad for treatment.”

  • Lions club to touch lives of 50m visually impaired Nigerians

    Lions Club International, district 404B2 has revealed that it hopes to touch the lives of over 50m Nigerian visually impaired all over the country.

    The club which is erecting a specialist eye centre in Abuja says it will provide capacity building, awareness, eye screening and cornea transplant to over 50m Nigerians when completed and will be bigger than the eye centre in Kenya which has so far served the whole of Africa.

    International President Lions club Gudrun Yngvandottir said that the international body allows the districts make the decision for their communities.

    Her words, “They decide what they do, they identify the needs in their communities, we always ask the questions what do you need, what is needed in your community no decisions are made at the top of the, we make decisions together and we realize that the need is now, it is diabetics and visually impaired people.

    “We have plans to assist about 200m people worldwide and this is based on the reports we get from the clubs and we know that we can reach the goal, the needs are different in parts of the world.”

    2nd Vice district governor, district 404B2 Nigeria, Ademola Adesonya revealed that the district has plans of touching the lives of 50m visually impaired Nigerians.

    His words, “We are working on building a huge eye centre in Abuja in which the whole of Africa can use, the sample of which can be found in Kenya but that of Abuja will be bigger, the hospital will do eye screening and cornea transplant in which we remove the whole eyes and replace them with another but this project is not the first project of Lions club international multiple district 404 Nigeria.

    Read Also: Lions Club gets new charter president

    “We have sited a lot of projects but most of them are in the southern part of the country because Lions club international is more in the South, we have projects all over the south but the one being set up in Abuja will not only be accessed all over Nigeria but Africa.

    “We have four major districts in Nigeria, district 404A1, 404A2, 404B2 and 404B2, each district has a lot of projects. In district 404B2 where I belong we gave signed a Memorandum of understanding (MOU) the Teaching hospital Ekiti to build a diabetic centre for them this Lion year and we hope to touch the lives of not less than 20m Nigerians within the district alone and other districts are doing theirs.

    “The one we are siting in Abuja, we have not completed the building but as it goes on the capacity building, awareness and screening will be going on, the only one we might not do this year is the cornea transplant because the hospital will have to be completed first, this project will hopefully benefit the whole multiple district and touch the lives of not less that 50m Nigerians.”

  • Lions Club, OLA Foundation empower youths

    Some youths have benefited from free training on cocktail drinks mixing and gele tying.

    The empowerment was organised by Ikeja Golden Lions Club, in collaboration with Olawole Lanre Akinsanmi (OLA) Foundation.

    According to OLA’s founder Folayemi Akinsanmi, the training was targeted at lifting the less-privileged, helping the youth to make a living and keeping them from vices and crime.

    Akinsanmi, also the chairman of the Club’s Planning Committee, said the youth gained skills, confidence and responsibilities required to become productive and healthy adults.

    He said: “They have been trained on how to mix different cocktail drinks and gele tying; they are simple skills youths can master in a short time and make use of to fetch them daily income, make a living and contribute their own quota to nation building,  with little or no capital.

    “If they can make use of what they have learnt, they will be able to become entrepreneurs, and even employers of labour.”

    She urged the trainees to make good use of what they had learnt, noting that some of the participants are jobless secondary school and university graduates.

    The club’s President, Nike Aiyepe, said the training was aimed at empowering the youth and enabling them stand on their own.

    “Empowerment is part of Lions programme and it is geared towards helping youths to fend for themselves. The government alone cannot do it. and this is why we have contributed our quota to assist the government.

    “We have spent a lot of money in this training. We have brought in professionals to train them. I advise them to put what they have learnt into practice. They should use it to make money and make themselves useful for themselves and to the society. With this training, youths will not loiter around, they will not engage in crime but hey will be able to stand on their own and not always depend on people.”

    She urged government to assist by empowering youths with funds to start business. She said the government should also assist non- governmental organisations to do more to the society,”.

    She said the club is targeted at helping the needy and contributing to the community.

    Past District Governor, District 404 B2, Lions Club International, Dr Funke Adebajo, said the training was aimed at making the youth productive, adding that it would make them better citizens, financially independent and take their mind off negative thinking.

    “They can make headgear for people at parties and they will be paid for it. They can open a shop where people will come and tie the headgear and they can also train others. For the cocktail training, they have been taught how to prepare the drinks in different flavour; all of these is to make them earn a living for themselves, they should not make it a waste, they should be productive and make income from it. They should be focused and they will be able to generate more funds from it,” she said.

    One of the beneficiaries, Oluremi Akinmoladun, thanked the club and the foundation for the gesture, noting she learnt a lot and planned to start a business.

    “I intend to use my training to make money and I hope to become an employer some day,” she said.

  • Lions Club gets new charter president

    Lions Club International members, including the District Governors, and other well- wishers penultimate weekend converged on Laroy Event Centre to witness and rejoice with Lion (Mrs) Adewunmi Adepoju, as she was installed the Charter President of the Ogun Platinum Heritage Lions Club under the District 404B1, Nigeria.

    All the guests remained standing as the fair-complexioned young woman, gorgeously dressed in green French lace with a green colour headtie and gold shoes was ushered into the hall with sonorous music in company with executive members  of the club and family members.

    Lion (Mrs) Adepoju was installed to handle the affairs of the club for 365 days.

    The event was also used to raise funds for the club’s humanitarian services.

    Speaking at the event, Lion Lekan Babalola charged all members to work towards achieving the district and global major projects, including fighting against diabetes and poor vision, feeding the hungry,  protecting the environment and campaign against paediatric cancer proposed for 2018/2019 Lion’s year.

    He said that Lion Clubs International was formed in 1917 to provide a platform to service the society needs worldwide.

    The guest speaker, Lion (Pharm) Debo Afolayan said Lions Club wasn’t a secret society or cultist group, but an organisation set up to sacrifice their three “T”(time, talent and treasures) to service the humanity, adding that the club’s slogan is “in Lionism we serve”, which means the club is an organisation that serves humanity.

    Mrs Adepoju, in her acceptance speech, thanked  everyone who came to share in her joy.  She promised to run a transparent government.

    She pledged her loyalty to Lions Club’s guiding rules and regulations in line with the district yearly projects.