Lions Clubs International District 404B4 has earmarked N100 million for a diabetes-focused programme targeting 10,000 beneficiaries in the 2026/2027 service year.

Its District Governor, Patience Ngene, said this on Saturday in Lagos while unveiling her leadership team and agenda for the new service year.

Ms Ngene said the initiative would prioritise children living with diabetes, with the district partnering with health centres in communities to provide screening, treatment support and sponsorship where necessary.

“Our key focus is on children with diabetes because we know a lot of people are dying slowly,” she said.

She also said the district had so far reached about 100 people through its diabetes interventions but would significantly scale up its efforts during her tenure.

According to her, diabetes screening would remain a major priority, alongside interventions in vision care, youth and women empowerment, and community development.

Ms Ngene also unveiled plans to empower 50 widows with sewing and branding machines to enable them to establish sustainable livelihoods.

She stressed that the success of her administration would be measured by the tangible impact of its projects on beneficiaries by the end of the service year.

“What I would like is the impact service I have put in place,” she said.

Ms Ngene said the administration would operate under the theme, “Passion for Service, Service Without Limits”.

The immediate past District Governor, Adebowale Afolayan, said his administration screened residents for diabetes and glycaemic conditions and referred those at risk to health centres.

Mr Afolayan said the district also conducted vision screening and supported beneficiaries with surgeries, medication and lifestyle interventions.

He said the projects were driven by community needs, covering healthcare, hunger relief, vision care and childhood cancer.

Mr Afolayan said the district also recorded a membership growth of 236 during his tenure, rising from 1,591 members at the beginning of the service year.

The First Vice District Governor, Wale Obisesan, appealed to members, donors and friends of the district to support the new administration’s service projects.

He said wider support was essential to executing the programmes planned for the service year.

The Head of the Department of Political Science, Federal University Otuoke, John Kalama, said Lions’ community interventions complemented government efforts in healthcare and other sectors.

“National development is a shared responsibility,” Mr Kalama said.

The event featured the formal transfer of leadership from Mr Afolayan to Ms Ngene, cabinet presentations, fundraising appeals and awards for distinguished service.

Mr Afolayan rang the gong for the final time to formally hand over leadership, after which Ngene rang it for the first time to signal the beginning of her tenure.

The event was attended by Lions leaders, traditional rulers, government officials, members, friends and well-wishers. 

(NAN)