60th Anniversary: Lions International MD 404 Nigeria relaunches charity foundation
Lions International Multiple District (MD) 404 Nigeria has begun activities marking its 60th anniversary, with the relaunch of the Nigeria Lions Charity Foundation (NLCF).
The NLCF, the dedicated funding and grant-making arm of MD 404 Nigeria, was initially revitalised in 2004 during the lead-up to the 10/40 anniversary in 2005.
The relaunch aims to empower the foundation to effectively support crucial projects, notably the Lions Eye Hospital and Cancer Research Centre, which began in March.
Speaking at a news conference on Monday in Lagos, Multiple Council Chairperson of MD 404 Nigeria, Lions International, Mr Anogwi Anyanwu, appealed to all members to strenghten the foundation’s efforts.
He recalled the two million dollars grant previously secured from the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) for the eradication of river blindness in Nigeria.
Anyanwu emphasised the dual significance of the 2024/2025 Lions Year, marking not only 60 years since Lions International’s arrival in Nigeria but also the 40th anniversary of the establishment of 404 Nigeria as an independent District, which later evolved into a Multiple District.
Anyanwu said, “It is remarkable to witness the growth of our organisation from a single District with mo fewer than 1,300 members in 1984 to Multiple Districts of 10,000 members today.
“Our humanitarian impact is evident across Nigeria through landmark projects focused on preventing blindness, supporting accident victims, aiding pediatric cancer patients, empowering youth through engagement and education, combating hunger and diabetes, and safeguarding the environment.”
Looking ahead, Anyanwu said that MD 404 Nigeria had secured the privilege of hosting the Africa Forum in Abuja in November 2027, expressing his enthusiasm for welcoming members from across the continent.
Highlighting past achievements, the Chairperson recounted numerous impactful projects executed by Lions MD 404, its clubs, and districts, with vital support from the Lions Clubs International Foundation, the NLCF, and other donors.
These include the Lions Village Motherless Babies Home in Lekki, the Sagamu Accident Clinic, the Lions Cancer Treatment Centre and the Ilupeju Lions Diabetes Clinic at LASUTH Ikeja, the Lions Eye Centre at Isolo General Hospital, and the Lions Mercy Home Hostel at LUTH Idi Araba.
Other initiatives include the Lion Isaac Olusola Dialysis Centre and Renal Institute at LUTH Idi Araba, Lions Diabetes Screening and Treatment Centres in Ede in Osun State and EKSUTH Ado Ekiti, the Lions Eye Clinic and Eye Bank in Ota (Ogun State), and the Lions Comprehensive Eye Care Development Centre in Osogbo.
Anyanwu commended all members within MD 404 Nigeria for their unwavering dedication to humanitarian service and urged all service-minded Nigerians to join the Lions International family to address the growing needs of communities.
Anniversary Chairman and Past District Governor (PDG), Mr Samson Abodunrin, described the 60/40 celebration as “a tribute to the Lions Club’s enduring legacy of service”.
“Over the past six decades, we have made tangible contributions to healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability throughout Nigeria,” he noted.
International Director for Constitutional Area VIII, Ms Adetope Tychus, emphasised the club’s commitment to empowering individuals through various training programmes.
“When we don our yellow vests and enter communities where we may be strangers, we bring compassion in action and offer hope where despair exists,” she noted.
LCIF Area Leader PDG Oyewole Oyewunmi called upon members to prioritise sustainable growth.
“It is crucial that we retain the members we attract.
“Recruiting members only to see them leave shortly thereafter undermines our mission,” she cautions.
