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By Johnson Adebowale
Ipakodo Lions Club has unveiled Tosin Akinwale-Oloshunde as its 12th president, alongside other officers for the 2022–2023 Lions’ calendar year.
The unveiling was done at an elaborate ceremony by the District Governor (DG) 404 A1, Nigeria of the International Association of Lions Club, Mr. Anogwi Anyanwu, in Ikorodu, Lagos.
The event, which also served as a fundraising ceremony for the club to source funds to finance its numerous projects, was attended by politicians, business tycoons, technocrats and humanitarians, among others. It also witnessed the presence of past presidents of the club and also the presentation of awards to members of the club who have shown great commitment in the past year.
Anyanwu, in his speech, implored members of the public to join the Lions movement and held that the humanitarian club aspires to attain a reach where there would be a Lion to meet every need in the world.
“In the service of humanity, the harvest is plenty but the labourers are few. We need more people to join the Lions movement so we can serve more people in need,” he said.
The new president, Akinwale-Oloshunde, who is the first female president of the club, in her acceptance speech, said the club has concluded plans to raise funds from well-meaning Nigerians, industrialists, corporate bodies, firms, parastatals and others to deliver its impactful social development projects to communities within Ipakodo, Ikorodu metropolis.
She emphasised the importance of raising awareness about diabetes, pediatric cancer for children, environmental hazards and hunger in many households and communities throughout the Ikorodu metropolis, saying that this will improve their livelihoods.
She said: “I would like to thank my family, especially my dear husband, for accepting to support me and throwing his weight behind me in my chosen field of service to humanity. I must equally appreciate my lovely dad for his fatherly role and support at all times. It’s been amazing starting as a Leo, then becoming the first female district president of Leo District 404A1 and the pioneer multiple district president of Leo MD 404 Nigeria in 2015.
“It is also important to say a big thank you to all the members of the Ipakodo Lions Club for accepting me to lead and for being gender sensitive.
“This session of appreciation will not be complete without recognising the immediate past president of the club, Lion Omololu Adeniyi, for creating an enabling environment for us to follow. Your exemplary leadership character is uncommon and on behalf of the members of my team, I say a very big thank you. God bless you.
“The tenure of a Lions’ Club president is 12 months, which might seem very short to achieve anything meaningful, but I can tell you that Lions’ Clubs International is so structured that at the end of the tenure, every president is judged by his/her success and relinquish the seat to the first vice president.
That’s why every day counts in the Lions’ calendar year.
“We have all gathered here to witness the official handing over and fundraising for the implementation of community-based projects because the Lions Club is all about service to humanity and the less privileged within the community that we find ourselves in, and our club has focused on the Ipakodo community.
“Therefore, I call on all dignitaries, families and friends to donate generously to this noble cause, and I can assure you that your donations will be judiciously used to touch lives and impact this community, taking into consideration their needs assessment earlier this year. On September 8, International Literacy Day, the club donated 500 exercise books and other writing materials to special students at LGEA Primary School, Ipakodo. This is just one of many projects. We, therefore, solicit your support to continue to put smiles on the faces of the less-privileged in our society.”
