Exuding a contagious confidence, the current District Governor of District 404B2, Lions Club, Nigeria, Mr. Tolulope Senbanjo said plans for the service year are going as envisaged. “I will like to say that we are on track since July 1 (2024), and it is clear that the members of our District 404B2 have been supportive, they understood the assignment, that we needed to increase the lives that we impact on a yearly basis and everybody has put their best foot forward to ensure that we not only serve others but also invite others to join us to serve others. And we carried out series of activities. Our massive event at Agege stadium where we organised free eye screenings, we also planted trees. We held our youth empowerment programme where we gave them (youth) first aid training, we also provided them vocational training in terms of soap making and toilet wash making. We provided food to members of that community. We had farmers come around and we provided them with seedlings for them to plant with the assurance that they give back to the community, a fraction at least, during harvest time.”
The Mechanical Engineer who was elected District Governor of District 404B2 last year July of the world-renowned club also spoke about the dinner the club had with visually impaired community as he recalled the activities in the first half of the service year. “We had a dinner with the visually impaired at the centre at Oshodi, where we engaged with members of that school. We had a mega hunger relief project in December where we donated food items to over 500 families thereby touching about 2,000 lives going by an average of four members per family. That project was funded by Alliance Club International Foundation. Various clubs had their various programmes but these ones I mentioned were projects carried out at the District level.”
The District has made some gains in the membership drive, according to Senbanjo. “In terms of membership, we have been able to grow our members to about 230 members and we will continue to push forward, campaign for people to join us. It (Lions Club) is a noble club and everybody deserves to be a LION!”
Senbanjo revealed that the humanitarian organisation did not meet the 250 million naira target at the luncheon organised last year in Lagos. “Honestly, we could not meet the target of 250 million naira, let’s say we had about 25 per cent of that amount raised, and that is why the Food Bank project is still pending or rather, it is on hold. We have engaged a lot of stakeholders particularly the Lagos state government, to see how they can support us by providing a land where we can build the Food Bank on, and begin to serve millions of lives on a yearly basis. While we are working on that, we are still talking to individuals to see how we can lease (lands). That project remains in the front burner in our District and we hope that in the few months left of the service year, we will achieve that,” he said.
And was the District Governor disappointed?
“Not really, going by, well, from where we were coming from, 25 per cent of 250 million, is a big leap, given that in the time past, we have not been able to raise that kind of amount in the District. However, we are not resting on our oars, we will keep pushing and see that we make the dream come true. The service year is just halfway, so…”
He was elated about the award won by the Ikeja Dynamics Lions Club even as he debunked the notion that his being District Governor influenced it. “I am proud to be a member of the Ikeja Dynamics Lions Club. Even as District Governor, the club has kept its dynamism, the club has kept its innovative spirit, the club has kept its service spirit and this is well recognised by our international organisation in terms of receiving the international marketing award, which shows that the club has been able to carry out…not just carry out those projects but has been able to give it the adequate publicity it deserved which has encouraged people to join the club. I am proud of Ikeja Dynamics Club. The recognition shows the tenacity of the members (Ikeja Dynamics club) in our District.”
“I wouldn’t want to take credit for that award, it is a collective effort of all the members of Ikeja Dynamics club. We have the board of directors capable of driving all members to put their best foot forward to ensure that we be the best at everything we set our sights on particularly the president of our club, Lion Opeyemi Calebs Sanyaolu really ensured, and with the support of all members, that we achieved outstanding results last year. This was what was recognised this year by the international body.”
As the service year enters its second half, what are the plans of District 404B2? “In a football game, at halftime, players go into the dressing room and coaches have the opportunity to speak to the players and re strategize, to ensure that they have the most favourable outcome, which is what we have done. At the close of the first half of the service year, we had a townhall meeting with all members where we looked at all our goals of the year and created action plans on how to achieve all of our goals before the end of the service year, so we are on track. We have received strong commitments from all our members, so, we will finish strong this service year.
“We have a joint District convention coming up this week in Ilorin, Kwara State, where prior to that convention we will be carrying out a global service implementation day as well as our second half of our Hunger Relief Project, where we intend to donate food items to about 500 families again, translating to about 2, 000 lives just before we begin the convention. We are also having our multiple Districts convention in May where Lions will have the opportunity to bond with each other while we also look at our history, what we have been able to do so far and create strategies to improve on what we have done.”
Is his personal business suffering while he takes care of Lions Club business? “No! Being a DG, people say it is a full time job on its own, but I have my own business that I do in terms of transportation. I have partnership with LAMATA, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, however, I have capable hands in terms of management that have been able to cover for me when I am unavailable for my personal business and also in Lions business.”
