Empowerment: Association to provide food support for over 15,000 families
*** To organise vocational skills for youths and widows
The Lions Club International District 404B4 Nigeria plans to provide food support to a minimum of 15,000 families within its region through its “Hunger relief project” for 2023 – 2024 Lions Service year, to ease the sufferings of Nigerians.
Lion Samson Abodunrin, the Pioneer District Governor for the newly Bifurcated District 404B4 disclosed this at a media briefing in Lagos as part of the District’s agenda for the year.
DG Abodunrin said that the objective was to help the needy in the area of hunger relief within Ibadan, Otta, Abeokuta and Lagos regions.
He said that the operation feed the poor project was part of the district’s agenda for the year with 10 regions, adding that traditional rulers, community leaders and associations will be involved.
According to him, We intend to feed 6,000 families, and 9,000 school children in various locations.
“We will be implementing this goals via our community based, and our school-based strategy.
“We shall also focus on empowerment of the youth, and widow.
“The District will create opportunity for them to learn and acquire vocational skills.
“The necessary tools and equipments needed will be provided.
“In addition, a start-up grant will be given to the graduates of the vocational and skill training center,” he added.
The District Governor said: “Our District core project this year is combating hunger and empowerment of the underprivileged.
“We believe that hunger, nutrition and wellness are interrelated.
“According to the experts, nutrition is a critical part of health and development.
“Better feeding is related to improved infant, child and maternal health, stronger immune systems, safer pregnancy.
“Child-birth, lowers the risk of non-communicable diseases such as Diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases,” he explained.
He noted that experts also availed the fact that, children that are well fed are healthier and learn better.
He added that people with adequate nutrition are more productive and are better positioned to create opportunities to gradually break the cycles of poverty and hunger.
“Malnutrition in every form presents significant threats to human health.
Today in Nigeria, like most developing countries is faced with the double burden of malnutrition that includes both undernutrition and starvation.
“It is therefore, important that we double our efforts, and work seriously to alleviate the burden of hunger and the resultant effects of malnutrition in our communities.
🔥Abodunrin said that Lions Clubs International is an international service organisation established by Melvin Jones in 1917 in Chicago, Illinois USA.
He stated that the club is one of the largest service organization in the world, with over 46,000 local clubs, and more than 1. 4 million members in more than 200 countries and geographic areas around the world.
“We are the knights of the blind.
He said that today, there are six districts in Nigeria, and since the formation of the first Club in Lagos in 1963, adding that Lions Clubs membership strength and its impact has continued to grow.
“We are contributing to the welfare of members of our various communities.
Lions of District 404B4, like other lions all over the world are galvanised by our passion to serve our communities.
The power of “we serve” is unique to the Lions alone. So wherever, or whenever there is a need, there is a lion.
The DG further said, “I equally acknowledge friends of lions, family members, and representatives of corporate organizations here present.
“I was fortunate to have been invited by a friend to join the Lagos Isolo Lions Club some 13 years ago, and since then I have never looked back.
“On that faithful day that I joined other lions to relax, sing and play, I listened to the speaker of the day, and the fine thoughts they brought, that was when I realised that I have a part in caring for the blind and the underprivileged.
“I have kept them in my mind ever since, as I do my daily task.
“This ignited my passion to take care of those who do not have, the destitute, the blind, the under-nourished, our school children, our community and our environment, ” Abodunrin said.
In her remarks, Lion Kema Ashibuogwu, the 404B1 Immediate Past District Governor, lauded Abodunrin for his commitment, steadfastness, and team work towards advancing the Club.
Lion Ashibuogwu assured that projects not completed under her administration, will be completed by the new District Governor, concluding that “it’s a collective responsibility.
