District 404A1 Lions Clubs to partner Govt., others for healthy Environment, better life for needy
L-R: Past District Governor, District 404A1 Nigeria, Lion Adedipe Adekunle; District Governor, Lion Tokunbo Aromolaran; and 2nd Vice District Governor, Lion Ano Anyanwu, during the press conference on the activities of the district in 2020-2021 Lions Service Year.
The new District Governor (2020-2021) for District 404A1 Nigeria of the International Association of Lions Clubs, Lion Tokunbo Aromolaran, has pledged to partner with various government agencies and other organizations within the district’s catchment areas to provide a healthy environment and better life for the less privileged.
Lion Aromolaran, the Managing Director, VON Automobile, former Head, Commercial Banking, Guaranty Trust Bank, and a former Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, made the pledge while briefing the press on his District plans, Programmes and activities for 2020-2021 Lions Service Year in Lagos recently.
He said to make the world a better place for mankind, the clubs under his district will be devoted to rendering services in the five global causes identified by Lions Clubs International, namely: Diabetes, vision, hunger, environment and paediatrict cancer, which he said are in need of urgent attention.
In the area of prevention of blindness and restoration of vision, he said the District will be wholesome, covering the full spectrum of management of eyesight aimed at arresting preventable blindness even as they hope to partner with other organizations already making inroads in this area with a view to reaching more people and making a more impactful intervention.
On Diabetes, Lion Tokunbo Aromolaran, said the district plans to extend the support they have given the people they have identified as caught in the diabetes web during their earlier screening in 2019/2020, promising to extend the scope of screening to identify more people in need of help as well as engage in educating the public on ways to manage their health to avoid being struck by diabetes.
He said the district is ambitious to put in place the infrastructure for a soup kitchen from where Lions can arrange to support the hungry with decent meals now and in successive years.
Speaking on environment, he expressed worrisome that adequate attention is not paid to waste management, noting that “in many areas, wastes is carelessly dumped on roadsides, creating incubation sites for diseases and plagues and posing serious health hazard to our people…”
While promising to partner Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) to make impact in this sector and help to prolong the lifespan of the people, the District Governor posited that he will educate the people on proper wastes management techniques.
On paediatric cancer, Lion Aromolaran called on clubs to carry out thorough environmental assessment in their localities to determine which form of cancer they wish to assuage, since paediatric cancer is not a major scourge within their catchment area, advising that where paediatric cancer is not prevalent, cervical or breast cancer can be looked at in those communities.
He said subject to availability of fund, the district will continue to support the ongoing Dialysis project at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital with the hope of having it commissioned in this Lions year.
The District Governor who underscored the importance of leadership development to the growth of the district, hinted that all club members, not just club Officers, will be offered various leadership training to equip them with the tools to achieve greatness in the district and across Africa, adding that each member will be given opportunity to make an impact.
He called on all club Presidents to make their clubs attractive for members by being more creative, more daring and make members look forward to meetings and service activities.
“We are challenging Lions this year to make their Clubs what they want them to be: active and vibrant. We are encouraging Club Presidents to be more creative, more daring and make members look forward to meetings and service activities. Each Club President will be required to present an initiative on how he or she intends to make the club more attractive to current and future members. The best ideas will be shared district-wide with a view to attracting more members and making their time at Lions’ events worthwhile,” he stated.
While describing the year as symbolic in many respects, Lion Aromolaran, noted, “It marks the beginning of another decade and I hope it will also usher in a new beginning for sustained growth and a more vibrant Lions’ family. I hope it marks Nigerian Lions’ embrace of the worldwide web and social media powered by the Internet.
“At this time, one cannot but mention the disruption to global well-being occasioned by the pandemic caused by the attack of COVID-19 on the human race. The impact on the world at large, and Lions’ family in particular, has been earth-shaking.
“Singapore 2020 has had to be cancelled. Warri 2020 suffered the same fate. Alternative methods have had to be adopted in conducting our businesses to observe ‘social distancing’; all to preserve human lives, while we seek a solution. The pandemic presents another opportunity for Lions to demonstrate their relevance to a troubled world.”
