Abuja Metropolitan Lions Clubs Inaugurate New Exco, Raise Funds to Equip 20 Bed Oncology Center.
Oru Leonard
On Saturday, September 25 2021, Lion Aniekan Michael and was inaugurated as President of The Abuja Metropolitan Lions Club Abuja in District 404-A2 in Nigeria, alongside other club officers for 2021- 2022 period.
In his acceptance speech, Lion Aniekan who expressed gratitude to members for giving him the privilege to serve said he would not take their trust for granted. He noted that humanity requires the sacrifice of all members and well meaning Nigerians, adding that he will prioritise creating a new and safe environment where good health is promoted, our environment is preserved, Diabetes is eradicated, Sight is restored, Paediatric Cancer is given utmost attention and Hunger.
In an interview with Journalis, The newly inducted President said plans are underway to equip the pediatric cancer treatment centre it donated to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital.
Michael said the 20-bed oncology centre was built in 2020 amid the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic at the of about 30 million naira, explained that the project was conceived to stem the number of paediatric cancer cases on the rise without care in the country.
“For the year 2021/2022 Lions year, I have taken it upon myself as a signature project to consolidate where we are coming from,” he disclosed.
“So just last year during the coronavirus era, the club was able to put together a 20-bed space oncology centre, donated at no cost to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital. So today is another opportunity to bring friends, families, every well-meaning Nigerian into our space to ensure that we can put together our commonwealth to equip that same centre to get into a full-function state.
“We spent well over N30 million in putting together that facility and for this year, it is my desire that we can have a frontrunner as to the financial strength to kickstart full equipping. So we hope to put it into full use just so children who are faced with cancer can have a rare hope as to how best they can survive these issues.
“It is my desire we can put together an estimated amount of N50 million just so we can get the very best of equipment that can help these children find some level of succour as it relates to healthcare and attention.
When asked on the category of patients that will use the facility he said,“It is open to the public but we are more particular about the underprivileged, the reason being that’s one of the focus areas of the Lions Club International”.
Also speaking to Journalis was the District Governor of Lions Club 404 A-2, Lion Lynda Odu-Okpeseyi, who controls 17 states; all the states in South-South, South-East and part of the North, including Kogi, FCT, Kaduna, Taraba and Benue states, commended the club’s effort in building a resource center for the School of the Blind, a Pediatric Cancer center in Abuja and now thinking of equipping the cancer center. She charged the President and all members of the Abuja Metropolitan Lions Club to embrace ‘Excellence in Service’, ensuring that everyone who is truly in need is served.
” I believe that the leadership skills you he acquired and will still acquire this service year , together with the human resources that abound in your club, will be deployed to ensure the communittes within the bounds of your local community are impacted positively, leaving indelible footprints for posterity”, she advised.
She disclosed her plans on building a Diabetes Centre in Ogoja, Cross River State, an ultra-modern facility where screening, treatment, and advocacy can effectively be carried out.
