Lions Club International Celebrates 60 Years of Service In Nigeria, 40 Years As Multiple District 404, Highlights Challenges, Achievements

Mary Nnah

Lions Club International in Nigeria has marked a major milestone, celebrating 60 years of humanitarian service and 40 years as Multiple District 404.
The organisation has been instrumental in implementing various community development projects across the country, transforming lives and communities.

According to Princess Bridget Adetope Tychus, International Director for Africa, Lions Clubs International, “It’s like Lions Club International is recording on a blank canvas what we have achieved in the last 60 and 40 years.”
She highlighted the organisation’s significant impact, noting that Nigeria makes up about one-third of the entire African membership. “Nigeria is already stamped in terms of history, in terms of numbers, and in terms of the achievements,” she added.

The organisation has undertaken numerous impactful projects, including the cancer treatment and screening center at Lagos State University (LASU), the kidney dialysis center at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), and the eye center and eye bank at Isolo General Hospital. Additionally, Lions Club International has provided relief to flood victims in Maiduguri, demonstrating its commitment to serving communities in need.

As Princess Tychus noted, “We may not be where we want to be in terms of the number of projects, but we know that definitely, significantly, we have made such an impact on our communities.”

The anniversary events will take place from Wednesday, May 14th to Sunday, May 18th in Osogbo, Osun State. Activities will include seminars and training sessions, presentations, and a grand finale, “The Uwambe Nights”.

Princess Tychus explained that the seminars and training sessions will focus on showcasing the organisation’s achievements and future plans, with a goal to increase membership to 1.5 million globally. She emphasised the importance of collaboration, stating, “We seek more collaboration… We want to work with the government to make a greater impact.”

Despite facing challenges such as public perception and government policies, the organisation has remained committed to its mission.
Princess Tychus acknowledged these challenges, stating that, “initially, when we were young, the public thought, this must be cult, this must be for rich people, this must be for the elite.”

However, she emphasised that the organisation has overcome these misconceptions through its community-focused projects and collaboration with government agencies.

Lion Anogwi Anyanwu, Multiple Council Chairperson of Multiple District 404 Nigeria, highlighted the significance of the celebration, saying, “The 60/40 anniversary celebration is a double-barreled celebration of 60 years of the existence of Lions International in Nigeria and 40 years celebration of the creation of 404 Nigeria as a district, which later became a multiple district.” He added that the celebration is an opportunity to showcase the organisation’s achievements and invite more Nigerians to join the Lions Club, emphasising that “we are just celebrating those achievements and calling attention to them… And then using the opportunity to invite more Nigerians to come and join the Lions Club so that the capacity to serve the needs of those in need is increased.”

Anyanwu also highlighted the organisation’s achievements over the years, noting that “we have done so much service, serving the needs of humanity in Nigeria. We have given water to communities in need of water. We have done environmental sanitation and environmental protection activities. We have done a lot of work in diabetes, in the restoration of eyesight, in building facilities, catering to dialysis, catering to renal issues, and catering to eye problems.”

With its commitment to service, collaboration, and community development, Lions Club International in Nigeria is poised to continue making a difference in the lives of Nigerians. As the organisation looks to the future, it is clear that its legacy of service and commitment to humanity will continue to inspire and transform communities across the country.