LAGOS – The Ikorodu Golden Lions Club on Friday said it had earmarked N10 million to provide specialised materials and equipment for visually impaired primary school pupils in the local government area.
The President of the Club, Mr Abdulwaheed Oyetunji, spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Oyetunji said the aim of the project was to improve the lives of the visually impaired in primary schools and assist them to cope academically.
He said that the club would partner with the special school in Ipakodo, Ikorodu by giving the pupils hope through their humanitarian service in the community.
“We will also provide stipends as transportation fare for the students because some of them come from as far as Ijede to the school in Ipakodo.
“In every corner of the world, people are waiting for someone to give them hope. Our projects will touch people’s lives in a deep and lasting way.
“In keeping with this vision, we have chosen `Beyond Sight: Creating a vision for the future’ as the theme for this lionistic year.
“Though we are in the midst of an economic recession, we still face a vast ocean of possibilities and opportunities to serve the less fortunate,’’ the Lions Club president said.
He said that the club would also sponsor cataract surgery and distribution of eye glasses to some residents of Ikorodu.
According to him, the club will also distribute exercise books and educational materials to schools; items to orphanages, as well as treated mosquito nets to health centres and general hospitals in the community.
Oyetunji said the club would also rehabilitate Primary Health Centres by repainting them and providing them with small refrigerators and sink boreholes in identified areas in the community.
He said apart from donations from club members, a fundraiser would be organised to get money to carry out the projects, which would be delivered before June.
Mr Batare Akpomejero, a Patron of the club, also told NAN that building of the society was a joint responsibility of all citizens as government alone could not do it.
Akpomejero said helping the needy in the society was man’s responsibility to God and to himself, as well as a way of contributing one’s quota to the nation’s growth and development.
Also speaking, Mr Niyi Lawal, Charter President, Ipakodo Lions Club, called on women to be more actively involved in humanitarian service in the community.
“We need to have more women as members of the Lions Club considering the population of Ikorodu, and for more services to be rendered.
“Women are more caring, they have softer hearts than men. We believe their impact will be significant when more of them join us,’’ Lawal said.
NAN reports that Lions Club International is a non-governmental organisation that was established in 1917 with membership strength of over 1.3 million members worldwide. (NAN)
