Region six Lions Clubs commit to humanitarian services
L-R Lion Matthew Obasohan, President, Ikeja Unique Lions Club; Lion John Oriazowan, President, Ikeja Metro Lions Club; Lion Adekunle Owonifari, 2nd Vice President, Lagos Apex Lions Club; District 404B2 District Governor, Lion Wesley Kafidiya presenting Award of Competent Leader on behalf of Lagos Apex Lions Club to Lion Blessing Umebali, Region 6 Chairperson while Lion Kayode Oshinuga, 2nd Vice District Governor; Lion Cynthia Saka, President, Lagos Apex Lions Club; Lion Adeshola Adu, 1st Vice President, Lagos Apex Lions Club and Lion Uche Amara, Lagos Royal Lions Club watch in admiration at the Region 6 end of tenure get-together and Excellence Awards held recently at Etal Hotel and Suites, Ikeja Lagos.
Lions Clubs under Region Six, District 404B2 Nigeria, International Association of Lions Clubs, have demonstrated commitment to serving humanity in five core areas of diabetes, vision, hunger, environment and childhood cancer.
The Chairperson of the region, Lion Blessing Umebali, while speaking at the Region’s end of tenure get-together and Excellence Awards held recently at Etal Hotel and Suites, Ikeja Lagos, said Lions are committed to serving humanity and improving the living standard of the needy and the less privileged in their communities.
Lion Blessing Umebali who is also the publisher of the Brand Point Magazine, while giving performance reports of the Lions Clubs under the region during the 2019/2020 Lions Year, said the Lions thrived in their service to humanity in improving their quality of life in line with global objective of the International Association of Lions Clubs.
She said during the period under review the two zones under the region have embarked on various activities and projects aimed at impacting the communities and alleviating suffering as well as giving succour and hope to the sick, the poor and the less privileged.
According to her, as regards our global causes, all clubs in our two zones (Region) embarked upon them, providing direct assistantance to poorest of the poor including humanitarian causes in the areas of Diabetes, Vision, Hunger, Environment and Childhood Cancer among others.
On Diabetes , she said “our clubs served and still serving our community to reduce the prevalence of diabetes and improve quality of life for those diagnosed.”
On Vision, Lion Blessing said “our clubs served and still serving to prevent avoidable blindness and improve quality of life for people who are blind and visually impaired.
Speaking on Hunger, she stated “Our clubs served still serving to ensure all community members have access to nutritious foods”
On Environment, Lion Blessing said the clubs served and are still serving to sustainably protect and restore the environment to improve the well-being of all communities.
About Childhood Cancer, she posted “Our clubs were on massive campaign for the childhood cancer for those affected by childhood cancer survive and thrive. Clubs didn’t fold their arms during this ongoing covid-19 pandemic, they gave palliatives, medical supplies created awareness via YouTube and billboards on how best to stop the spread and to imbibe healthy culture to help curtail the disease.”
Membership
“In terms of membership, Lagos Apex Lions Club gave birth to a new club, Maryland Royal Lions Club. Ikeja Unique Lions Club also sponsored a Club, Magboro Unique Lions Club. At present, we have Ikeja Metro Lions Club with 61 membership strength; Ikeja Unique Lions Club 52; Lagos Apex Lions Club 27; Lagos Crystal Lions Club 21 and Lagos Royal Lions Club 20. Total membership of Lions in Region 6 is 181. In our zones and (region) Clubs added 23 this Lions Service Year. See the analyses, Ikeja Metro Lions Club 12. Ikeja Unique Lions Club 8 and Lagos Apex Lions Club 3. It means with 23 add up it’s as good as having chartered a new club.
Conventions
A: District Convention: All clubs in our Zones (Region) registered and also attended the conventions.
B: Warri Convention tagged Efuru 2020 All Clubs in our Zones (Region) Registered its clubs and members. For the covid-19 pandemic we couldn’t attend it.
C: International Convention tagged ‘Singapore 2020’ Lions in our Zones (Region) also registered and planned to attend for the covid-19 pandemic it was aborted.
Dues/ Financial Contributions
In the last one year of our tenure, Zone chairpersons and all club Presidents including their key officers have been impressive and diligent in their work. I can tell that they are Loving Individuals Offering Needed Services (L.I.O.N.S) However, because it is time of reckoning, some of them are the light that shines in our region, REGION 6! This is so because clubs in our region were amongst the 5 clubs that made first payment of both Local and International due.
Two clubs Presidents went to Milan International Convention at the beginning of their Lions Year and subscribed to MELVIN JONES FELLWO (MJF), while we had about 16 Lions from our Region that subscribed to NIGERIA LIONS CHARITY FOUNDATION (NLCF), again Covi-19 affected more subscribers from our Region to emerge. And of course the clubs in our region made up of other clubs that donated five million to Lagos State Government to support the covid-19 palliatives to the needy and vulnerable in our society. Also the three million donated to Federal government.
Talking about Helen Keller project, clubs in our region, including zone chairs and individual Lions and of course Region chairperson contributed N273, 500 for the tiling and plastering of the floor for the Girls Hostel.
Media & Publicity
Clubs in our Region will not stop publicizing activities via media both electronics, prints and social media.
Earlier in his opening remarks, District404B2 Nigeria DistrictGovernor, Lion Wesley Kafidiya, called on the Lions not to relent in their efforts in serving humanity and impacting their communities in unity and harmony in line with Lions’ global objective.
“Please, let us continue to focus on the words of our International President: “We serve all people in all places. Lions are a shining example to the world of the good that can be accomplished by uniting in harmony. We’re known for our strength and ability to help others – and this is only accomplished through Diversity.”
“Let us continue to pool our diverse backgrounds, experience, exposure, ideas, resources, and capacity together in leadership, membership and service; so we can have stronger Clubs and make much bigger impacts in our communities,” Lion Wesley Kafidiya said.
While commending the region on their achievements, he said “Having closely monitored service activities in all the Regions of the District from the beginning of the Lions Year, I can confidently confirm that you rank among the best so far. You have served your various communities passionately and selflessly. You have confirmed that ‘We Serve with Love’ and sincerely displayed your belief in “Do What You Love, and Love What You Do”.
“You have been able to impressively and qualitatively deliver on the tasks of LCI membership growth/development and the core service areas of Diabetes, Vision, Environment, Pediatric Cancer, and Hunger Relief.”
During the region’s Excellence Awards, the Best Club President and Most Innovative Club President, went to Lion John Lucky Oriazowan MJF NLCF, Ikeja Metro Lions Club.
The Best Club Membership Growth, was won by Ikeja Metro Lions Club.
Second Best Club President, was carted home by Lion Matthew Ejiroghene Obasohan MJF NLCF, Ikeja Unique Lions Club.
The Third Best Club President and Most Loyal President went to Lion Cynthia Titilayo Saka NLCF
Amongst other Clubs awards included Region Six Exemplary Leadership Award was given to District Governor Lion Wesley Kafidiya MJF NLCF, Outstanding Service Award to Past District Governor, Lion Taiwo Adewunmi PMJF NLCF. And a Recognition Service Award to Lion Kayod5e Oshinuga MJF NLCF, 2nd Vice District Governor and the District Coordinator on Global Leadership Team.
Other awardees that were unavoidable absent were Past District Governor Lion Dr. Olufunke Adebajo PMJF NLCF, Past District Governor Lion Ayobola Samuel MJF NLCF, Lion Mary Onu,PMJF NLCF and Lion Jide Bello, 2nd Vice District Governor Elect 404A2 amongst others.
