Ikeja Metro Lions Club marks anniversary, reiterates commitment to humanitarian services
District Governor, District 404B2 Nigeria, Lion Wesley Kafidiya and Ikeja Metro Lions Club President, Lion Lucky John Oriazowan (middle) flanked left and right by other members and friends of the Club jointly cutting 18th anniversary cake in celebration of the Ikeja Metro Lions Club’s 18th years at Marble Brand Hotel, Ikeja recently.
Ikeja Metro Lions Club under the International Association of Lions Clubs, District 404B2 Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to humanitarian services through impactful community projects and life touching supports to the needy in the society.
The President of the club, Lion John Lucky Oriazowan, made the declaration during the club’s 18th anniversary celebration at the Marble Brand Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, recently.
District Governor, District 404B2 Nigeria, Lion Wesley Kafidiya and Ikeja Metro Lions Club President, Lion Lucky John Oriazowan (middle) flanked left and right by other members and friends of the Club in a group photograph during a party organised in celebration of the Ikeja Metro Lions Club’s 18th years at Marble Brand Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, recently.
He said the major focus for Lions Clubs all over the world is to ensure that the needy and the less privileged in the society are given a sense of belonging through advocacy and humanitarian projects/activities that have direct impact in their lives, pledging that Ikeja Metro Lions Club, would continue to do it’s best in this direction.
The District Governor, District 404B2, Lion Wesley Kafidiya, in his speech, commended Ikeja Metro Lions Club for their monumental achievements and support for the District and charged them to do more.
“We want to commend you for all you have been able to achieve as a club with the space of 18 years. Ikeja Metro Lions Club is one of the strongest clubs in this District. We appreciate their supports for the District, but we still want them to do more,” the District Governor requested.
In his lecture, titled “Leadership as a Catalyst for innovation” the Past District Governor (PDG) Lion Olatunbosun Okpeseyi, tasked the Lions to be leaders with high sense of innovation and leadership capability.
According to him, “for organizations to be able to achieve constant innovation, leaders must establish an environment conducive to renewal in thoughts that will also, amongst others enable an organizational culture that encourages creativity and innovation.
“In today’s rapidly changing world and in the face of so many clubs competing for members, it is crucial for a Club to be innovative and creative in order to attract new quality members to ensure continued success in our quest for service to humanity. This need for innovation has brought on a requirement for innovative leaders who are capable of influencing and inspiring creativity in their members,” said.
He added that “Without innovative leadership, it is difficult for organizations or clubs like ours to survive in this era of technology and globalization.”
The ten characteristics of innovative leadership, according to him, include risk tolerance; domain expertise; openness; good communication; emotional stability; confidence; action oriented; collaborative inquiry; serious play and paying attention.
“When we engage ourselves in war against ourselves, we take the hand of development back in time” Leadership’s is the ability to transform situations with the cooperation of others,” Leadership is best exemplified than defined.
“It is more in the place of examples, it is easier to motivate others with examples than with words alone “, Leadership is the ability to educate the mind for service, and so learning is a paramount leadership quality. A man is limited by his knowledge, so how fast we can run is either limited or increased by our level of knowledge ‘
“Be accountable to the future as a Leader, when we try to run away from the future, we hit a brick wall that confines us to the past. If you make decisions based on the benefits that can only be seen today, our chances of prosperity (in service to humanity) are limited. ”
“Leadership comes at a price, but it also comes with a prize.”
“18 years of an impactful life of service to humanity is indeed a milestone and as we do our daily task, we pray we do them greatly. We fight posterity, when we embrace selfishness,” Lion Olatunbosun said.
One of the Past Presidents, Lion Blessing Umebali, Club Marketing Communications Chairperson who is also the Region 6 Chairperson in the District said serving humanity through the club platform is a way of adding their quota to the society that has made them. Hear her ” for us as members of Ikeja Metro Lions Club, coming together to serve our community with our time, talent, treasure and even technology is a surest way to say thank you to the society that has made us”.
Emphasising that Ikeja Metro Lions Club has produced both vibrant men and women who can confidently take any leadership role in the world because of the quality leadership trainings both in local and international as well as mentoring and workshops that the Lions Clubs International has made available for Lions to participate at an affordable cost.
Lion Umebali, said the leadership courses and other trainings are some of the benefits she has enjoyed as a Lion aside serving the needy selflessly.
She therefore call on spirit filled Nigerians to join Lions clubs to collaborate with government, so, to touch more lives and heal the world from poverty and hunger.
While tracing the history of the club, the past President of the club, Lion Raphael Akinsurile, said the club was established in 2002 by like-minded individuals who were previous members of Leo Club.
He said the aim of establishing the club was to give hope to the needy and less privileged in the society, adding that since then the club has remained in the forefront of advancing and advocating for the cause of these sets of people in the society through various humanitarian project and activities carried out by the club.
