The general perception paints it in the light of another social club. But the new Lagos Icon Lions Club, Ogudu, a brainchild of Lagos Unique Lions Club, Ikosi, Ketu, has proved that its activities go beyond clinking of glasses. Assistant Life Editor, TERH AGBEDEH, was at its induction of members, fund-raising and investiture of president recently
The District Governor moderating the induction of the Icon Lions Club members
One of the projects of the Lagos Unique Lions Club, Ikosi, Ketu, for the Lions year that will end in July, is the birth of another club, the Lagos Icon Lions Club, Ogudu. That club was presented a charter, its members inducted and its president, Princess Ann-Mary Obikansi, invested at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, penultimate Saturday.
There might have been a lot of dancing, eating and drinking, but the reason for the gathering, which is the betterment of humanity, was not lost on the members and guests who came from all walks of life, That is, after all, what Lions Club International has been about since 1917, when it was formed in the United States of America.
As is often the case when Lions gather, there was fund-raising to continue improving the lot of humanity, and this took place soon after the District Governor, Lion Tokunbo Jegede, made his address.
But first came the induction of the members of the Icon Lions Club, installation of the president and other officers and the presentation of the charter, which he said came straight from the organisation’s international headquarters in the U.S.
In her acceptance speech, Obikansi said the new club “intends to carry out many projects” such as the donation of 100 eye glasses, performance 20 cataract surgeries, five cornea transplant operations for which the club will employ the services of medical personnel.
“We shall employ the services of ophthalmologists and associated medical personnel to carry out eye screening tests for the detection of sight-related diseases like glaucoma, cataract, river blindness, diabetic retinopathy as well as other projects and activities to serve humanity at large,” she said.
She added that the club’s motto may be “we serve”, but the members cannot do this on their own, which is why they need a little help from their friends. She therefore called on the guests to join them in their effort to serve humanity.
Joining hands to help humanity was one theme that ran throughout the ceremony. It was the same when the guest speaker for the night, Professor Ojo Rasaki of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, presented his paper, which was as poignant as it was educative.
During his speech, in which he appealed to all present to lend a hand to the club’s humanitarian activities, especially against blindness, he asked everyone to close their eyes for a second. He explained, when the eyes were opened, that for millions of people in the world, darkness, the type of which one experiences when normal eyes are closed, is the reality.
He added that millions are visually impaired due to lack of information or cannot access surgery because they are poor.
“That is why we need to support the laudable cause of the Lions Club to eradicate blindness,” he appealed.
In his welcome address earlier, resident of the Lagos Unique Lions Club, the sponsoring president, Rev. Ogunkorode Abayomi, said it was with a sense of humility that he was welcoming members and guests to the gathering.
According to him, all that the Lions Club calls people to do is “works of mercy that we can do every day” which the parables in the bible that he alluded to speak about.
“We have no choice than to show mercy. To be unique is not in name only; so let us keep the flag flying,” he stated.
In his own speech, the District Governor said nine clubs chartered in the district in the current Lion year. He, however, said that the more clubs are chartered the merrier, as this would help Africa’s case in the club internationally.
“We have room for membership, if you have a caring heart and a means of livelihood. It is an open society which has been on for 97 years,” he said.
Apart from the charter certificate meant for the new club, all the inducted members got beautiful charter pins.
Guests at the event included: the District’s Chief of Staff, Lion Olu Akinsiku; Lion Toyin Durojaiye, who read the Code of Ethics at the event; and Lagos Woman Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mrs. Molara Vaughn.
Also present were: Mrs. Chioma Ezeala, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Elder Petrochemicals Ltd. and co-launcher; and Ben Bakare who came all the way from Benin City, Edo State.
In 1917, Melvin Jones, a 38-year-old Chicago business leader, told members of his local business club to reach beyond business issues and address the betterment of their communities and the world. Jones’ group, the Business Circle of Chicago, agreed.
After contacting similar groups around the U.S., an organisational meeting was held on June 7, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois. The new group took the name of one of the invited groups, the Association of Lions Clubs, and a national convention was held in Dallas, Texas, in October of that year. A constitution, by-laws, objects and a code of ethics were approved.
Within three years, Lions became an international organisation. Since then, the club has earned high marks for both integrity and transparency. A well-run organisation, it has a steady vision, a clear mission, and a long and proud history.
