The Abuja Metropolitan Lions Club, a Charter of International Lions Club, says it is committed to pediatric sight preservation and the provision of childhood cancer treatment.
Mrs Ladi Aliyu-Okojie, the President of the club gave the assurance at her Investiture as the 13th President of Abuja Metropolitan Lions Club, and Fund Raising on Wednesday in Abuja.
In her acceptance speech Aliyu-Okojie said her 2022/2023 tenure would be a unique opportunity to serve in a higher level within the lions club international focusing on children in School of the Blind, Utako in FCT and children wsuffering from cancer.
According to her, the intervention being part of Lions club international mandate of sight preservation is to restore the dignity of the children and give them their pride of place in the society.
“I thank God Almighty for this day that I am being entrusted with the leadership of this great club for 2022/2023 lions year; this unique opportunity to service at a higher level within the lions club international is such a huge privilege and I don’t take it for granted.
“The investiture is to mark the smooth change of leadership of the great club and a call for passionate leaders to join the service first train as we look forward to better our immediate society.
“Myself and family have been provided with a broad level platform to show care to the needy. Through selfless service one can in reality make a difference.”
Aliyu-Okojie urged every stakeholder and well-meaning Nigerians to key into the dream of “helping our immediate society and humanity as we strive for better Nigeria.”
The president, who said Lions club intervention was complimenting government’s efforts, however, urged the government to partner with the organisation.
According to her, such partnership will go a long way in providing succour to the society.
“I urge the general public wherever you find yourself just a little act of kindness will go a long way in putting smiles on the faces of the vulnerable. Anywhere you are just show a little act of kindness.”
Mr Michael Aniekan, the immediate past president of the club assured of the club’s commitment to continue in its good deed in the next one year and beyond.
Aniekan explained that the club’s target in the next few months was to run a general check on children with sight challenge such as cataracts, cornea issues, among others.
“I charged every philanthropist in the society to be steadfast, continue in your good work and consolidate on the gains of yesterday,” he said.
He said that 2022 investiture marked 12 years of humanitarian service, having recorded quantum of projects targeted at empowering communities and improving the livelihood of thousands of Nigerians since inception.
“It reminds us that our commitment to service and our dear country taking into account the fact that meaningful progress and sustained momentum can only be achieved through collective efforts from everyone.
“We must make a determined effort to pull our individual efforts together to build a virile, economically viable and sustainable platform for both lions and those we reach out to.
“While congratulating the president and other club officers, l encourage that we all brace up to serve diligently with service first at its core,” Aniekan advised.
Dr Paul Adiwu, the Chairman of the occasion urged everyone to extend hands of fellowship to the less privilege in the society.
Adiwu, however, attributed the rate of social vices in the country at the moment to negligence of the downtrodden.
“The problem we have at the moment with regard to social vices is as a result of negligence of the poor and conservation by those in affluence.
“The problem is that when you have something you want to keep it to yourself and family and the next door neighbour is dying of hunger and what will happen next by the time you are not there to for the needy,” he asked?
The chairman said as patriots, members of the club were bound to contribute toward service either in their participation and contributing to service projects or engagement in activities that collectively improves the social welfare of “our communities”.
He encouraged them to subscribe to the noble cause and support the tenets of the club.
“This includes ensuring that we eliminate tardiness in all our endeavours, ensure decorum in the way we conduct ourselves and eschew complacency.
“Through such measure we can truly work toward a collective goal of improving the welfare of our communities.
“I felicitate with the brand new president and other club leaders to be invested on this day and charge you all to stay steadfast on the goals and tenets of the association.
“You must all know that the successes you sort for is predicated on professionalism and consistency and always know that the underprivileged and downtrodden out there remains the focus.”
Source: News Agency of Nigeria