As part of its community service, the Lions Club International District 404B3 Nigeria says it will construct food courts across communities to address hunger.

The 2024 theme of the Lions Club International which started in Nigeria in 1964 with the objective of service to the poor, needy and under-privileged is: “Make Your Mark: Everywhere We Serve, Every time We Give, We Bring Kindness and Compassion, Change and Hope”.

Its District Governor, Dr Jide Bello, who made the pledge while addressing newsmen in Lagos following his inauguration, said the theme resonates deeply with the organisation’s shared mission.

Bello said in alignment with the theme, the district’s new service year’s theme is: ‘Serving Humanity, Our Passion’.”

He highlighted some of the district’s plans, saying it would support children with cancer and distribute three thousand eyeglasses to those in need.

According to him, the initiatives aim to positively impact five thousand people and leave a lasting legacy, saying the district had a special focus on blindness prevention and sight preservation.

Bello said they are also involved in the development of the youth, care for the environment, and actively engage in diabetes treatment and prevention, saying they are concerned with childhood cancer and hunger prevention.

He said the district would expand its reach, strengthen its membership, enhance collaboration and develop leadership skills to serve humanity better, emphasising the importance of collective efforts in achieving goals.

According to him, the district aimed to raise ₦200 million for the projects, calling on well-meaning Nigerians to support the cause.

In his words, with a renewed sense of purpose and optimism, Lions International District 404B3 Nigeria is poised to make a meaningful difference in the lives of many.

Bello said the district will prioritise the construction of a “Food Court” to address hunger in the country, targeting to reach out to five thousand people, Childhood Cancer Impact, Distribution of Eyeglasses: Clear vision is essential for a better quality of life.

He stated that the district will focus on distributing eyeglasses across the district to those who cannot afford them, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to see the world.

The District Governor informed that the district will present his fundraising luncheon of two hundred million naira for service projects scheduled for 10th August 2024 in Agidingbi Road, Ikeja, Lagos.

In his remarks, Multiple Council Chairman, Lion Anogwu Anyanwu, urged wealthy people to use their resources to help the needy, saying Lions Club is a community-based association.

Anyanwu believed that the Club will continue to serve the society by giving solutions to problems, saying their job is to serve humanity in every and any way possible, therefore they need service-minded people to join to lift others.

PRESS BRIEFING ADDRESSED BY THE DISTRICT GOVERNOR, DISTRICT 404B3 NIGERIA OF LIONS INTERNATIONAL – LION (Dr.) IBRAHIM ‘JIDE BELLO, (PMJF, NLCF) ON THURSDAY 4TH JULY, 2024 AT LAGOS.

Good morning distinguished members of the press, Leaders, Lions, Leos, and esteemed Guests.

I thank you all for finding time to attend this maiden edition of our Press Briefing to usher in our Service Year (2024- 2025) for DISTRICT 404B3 NIGERIA OF THE LIONS INTERNATIONAL.

I am deeply honored and humbled to officially assume the role of District Governor of Lions District 404B3 Nigeria.

As we embark on this new chapter, I am filled with optimism and a renewed sense of purpose. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all who have supported me on this journey, and I pledge to serve with dedication, integrity, and a commitment to excellence.

Gentlemen of the Press, our association which was founded in 1917 has become the largest service organization in the world. Our focus has 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 club in Nigeria in 1964. Since then, we have not backed down in serving the poor, the needy, and the underprivileged in our communities.

This year, our International President Fabricio Oliveira has given us the inspiring theme of “Make Your Mark. Everywhere we serve, every time we give, we bring kindness and compassion, change and hope.

This theme resonates deeply with our shared mission as Lions. In alignment with this, the District’s new service year’s theme is *”Serving Humanity, our passion “.

Together, these themes will guide our efforts and inspire us to create a lasting impact in our communities.

In this new dispensation, our vision shall be to amplify our impact across all the communities we serve. Our primary goals for this year include:
1) Expanding Our Reach: We will work tirelessly to extend our services to more communities in need.

This includes enhancing our 8 global causes which are: Childhood cancer, Diabetes, Disaster relief, Environment, Humanitarian, Hunger, Vision, and Youth empowerment.

2) Strengthening Membership: Our strength lies in our numbers.

We will focus on recruiting new members, especially the youths and Senior Citizens, while also retaining our current members through engaging and impactful initiatives.

3) Enhancing Collaboration: Building strong corporate partnerships with local and international organizations is crucial. We will seek out collaborations that can amplify our resources and extend our reach.

4) Leadership Development: Investing in the leadership skills of our members is paramount.

We will provide training and development opportunities to ensure our members are equipped to lead with confidence and competence.

Towards attaining the above visions, our key deliverables/initiatives shall include: 1) Food Court Building -Relieving Hunger: We will prioritize the construction of a “Food Court” to address hunger in our country.

This initiative aims to provide nutritious meals to those in need, ensuring that no one goes to bed hungry. We are targeting to reach out to 5000 people.

2)Childhood Cancer Impact: Childhood cancer is a critical issue that demands our attention.

We will enhance our efforts to support children and their families affected by cancer through medical assistance, awareness campaigns, and emotional support.
3) Vision – Distribution of Eyeglasses: Clear vision is essential for a better quality of life.

We will focus on distributing eyeglasses across our district to those who cannot afford them, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to see the world, our target is to build on what we did last year with an additional 3000 free distribution of eyeglasses.

In underscoring the import of this Press Briefing, permit me to invite this audience and other well-meaning Nigerians to my public presentation and fundraising luncheon of NGN200M for service projects scheduled for Saturday 10th August 2024 at Anchor Events Center, Agidingbi Road, Ikeja, Lagos.

We are reminded that every act of kindness and compassion leaves a lasting impression. We are called to breathe life into our service, staying proactive, bringing our vision to life, and focusing on positive outcomes. These principles will guide our actions as we strive to serve humanity more effectively for this service year.

To achieve these ambitious goals, we need the collective efforts of every member of Lions District 404B3 Nigeria, as well as the generosity of our Nigerian stakeholders.

I call on all Lions to embrace this vision with enthusiasm and dedication.
Together, under the banner of “Serving Humanity, our passion *, and inspired by the call to *”Make Your Mark,” we can create lasting change and leave a legacy of service that will inspire future generations.

In Conclusion, I am excited about the journey ahead and confident in our ability to make a meaningful difference.

Let us forge ahead with a spirit of unity, compassion, and determination.

Thank you once again for your support and for being here today. Together, we will continue to serve with pride and purpose.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the tremendous work of all my past district governors and immediate past district governor of my district for their dedication and leadership which they have laid a strong foundation upon which we will continue to build.

I also want to recognise the tremendous support of our members, both within and in the diaspora whose passion and commitment drive our mission forward.

Thank you, and God bless you all for the audience.

LION (Dr.) IBRAHIM ‘JIDE BELLO, (PMJF, aedNLCF),
DISTRICT GOVERNOR, DISTRICT 404B3 NIGERIA OF LIONS INTERNATIONAL.