L-R: CA8 Global Action Team learder, Dr. Hastings Chiti; Lions International Vice-President, Fabricio Oliveira and In-coming International Director for Africa, Princess Adetope Tychus, at the Lions International Constitutional Area VIIIB media chat with the International First Vice-President, in commemoration of his visit to Nigeria in Lagos on Friday, January 26, 2023.
R-L: Lion Tolulope Senbanjo FVDG District 404B2; Lion Osadebamwen Monday Okoro FVDG District 404A ; Lion Hastings Chiti, International Director CA8 Africa; Ln Fabricio Oliveira, so International First Vice-President ; Lion Dr. Folashade Shotomide FVDG District 404A3 and Lion Dr. Jide Bello FVDG District 404B3 during a media Chat with the International First Vice-President in commemoration of his visit to Lagos on Friday, January 26, 2024.
Lions Clubs International on Thursday expressed deep concern about porverty, hunger and disease in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. The first vice president of the global philanthropic association, Mr. Fabricio Oliveira, who is in his maiden visit to Nigeria and the territory known as MD 404, gave this expression during a press conference in Lagos to mark his visit.
Oliveira told the gathering that Lions Club was intensifying efforts to fight the menace of porverty, starvation and disease in Africa and the world at large, through its numerous programmes aiming to empower people to combat the problem as well as alleviate its effect on the needy.
Stating that his visit to Nigeria was part of the scheme to address the other issue of lack and reducing causes of suffering among the people, Oliveira noted that a number of programmes had been put in place for the purpose, just as he added that the Club was ever ready to support projects that would address challenges posed by hunger, national disaster, climatic difficulties and the likes.
The Lions Clubs International first vice president disclosed that the organisation had donated more than $2.8billion in terms of projects to alleviate effects of porverty, hunger and desease and ensuring talent development among the youth across the globe.
Adding his voice to the issue of porverty and hunger, Dr. Hastings Chiti, the CA8 Global Team leader, noted that Lions Club had a robust programme for combating the menace, stressing that “the whole essence of defeating hunger starts from self, family and community”.
He called for development of the mentality of planting edible crops like vegetables rather than buying them from the market. This practice if applied, he maintained, would save families much funds that would have been spent in the market.
Rivetting on climate change, Oleivera Said Lions Club International had over the years, floated programmes aimed at addressing the issue, through working with local clubs to create awareness about the phenomenon.
One way to tackle the challenge of climate change is the Club’s scheme of “Regreening Africa” being worked on by Engr. H.O.B. Lawal of Nigeria, who currently oversees the project for Nigera and Ghana.
This is about planting trees as well as preserving existing ones, and discouraging felling of trees.
Since its founding in 1917, Lions Clubs International largest service organisation in the world, with focus areas centres primarily on blind Ness prevention, sight preservation and development of the youth among others.
The association cares about the environment, actively engaged in diabetes treatment and prevention, childhood cancer and hunger prevention.
The organisation’s footprints are evident in the areas of service and projects all over Nigeria; in Universities, Health facilities and motherless babies homes among others.
