•As D404A2 Unveils 4-points Agenda
By Emma Sunday
Lion Engr. Edward Aigbedion has been officially presented to the public as the new District Governor of Lions Clubs International District 404A2 Nigeria, with a pledge to deepen the organisation’s intervention in healthcare, youth empowerment and other humanitarian services.
The presentation ceremony held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State over the weekend drew Lions members from across the country, captains of industry, government officials and other dignitaries together. It also served as a fundraising and partnership platform to mobilize resources for sustainable community projects.
In his inaugural address, Aigbedion said the 2026 service year will prioritize a four-point humanitarian agenda focused on sight preservation, youth empowerment, diabetes and childhood cancer.
A major highlight of the agenda, according to him is the proposed development of an eye hospital at Igbo Ukwu community in Anambra state in partnership with a Lions Club in Germany.
The District Governor also announced plans to intensify diabetes awareness and support for patients unable to afford treatment, including the development of a mobile application to help people manage the condition.
On childhood cancer, he said the District will build on existing interventions across Rivers State and other parts of District 404A2, and partner with health institutions on early detection and support for paediatric cancer patients.
“Four areas will receive particular attention during this Lions year. We will be taking a vision that is sight preservation. We will also be doing youth development and youth empowerment. We will also be broadening awareness on diabetes. Diabetes is very widespread these days. We’ll help people living with diabetes to survive. Those who can’t afford it, we will try and help them for medications. And we also intend to develop an app that will help manage diabetes,” Aigbedion said.
“For the young ones, pediatric cancer is on the front burner. And we are going to be deepening our support for young people living with cancer.”
On youth development, Aigbedion said the District will provide start-up equipment to graduates of 12 vocational disciplines at the Rivers State Skills Acquisition Centre. Tailoring graduates will receive sewing machines, auto-mechanics graduates will get complete toolboxes, with similar support planned for other trades.
He said the initiative is designed to help young people convert skills into livelihoods and reduce youth restiveness.
“During this Lions year, we shall pursue a vision that goes beyond ceremonies and activities. We shall build a District where Lions are united, visible and impactful; where service addresses many community needs; where young people are empowered to become leaders and where our partnerships enable us to achieve what we cannot achieve alone,” he said.
Aigbedion said his administration will operate under the “Welfare, Integrity, Respect, Excellence and Discipline,” WIRED for Quality Service philosophy.
“I accept this office not merely as a position but as a call to service. A call to lead with compassion, to serve with integrity and to create measurable impact in the lives of the people and communities entrusted to our care,” he said.
“We will conduct our service with honesty, transparency, accountability and trust. We will respect every Lion, every partner and every person we serve. We will not be satisfied with merely doing good. We will strive to do good exceptionally well with measurable and sustainable results.”
He called on government, corporate organisations, development partners and the public to support the Lions’ humanitarian efforts.
“Lions can bring people together. Governments can provide policy and infrastructure, the private sector can provide resources and innovation, medical professionals can provide expertise, while individuals can provide compassion and generosity. But when all these forces come together, we can create an impact far greater than any one of us could achieve alone,” he said.
Chairman of the occasion and Group Managing Director of Boing Group, Dr. Ory Martins, described the ceremony as successful and expressed confidence in Aigbedion’s capacity to lead the District.
“Engr. Aigbedion is a trained mind, a man that has occupied so many offices in his career, has had so many qualifications, incredible credentials, so I don’t have any doubt that he’s going to perform well with the people he has with him,” Martins said.
He urged the District to continue its service delivery, noting that Lions Clubs International, with over 1.4 million members in about 200 countries, remains one of the largest service organisations in the world.
Earlier in a valedictory speech, immediate past District Governor, Lion Ezekiel Umoh, said the presentation was an opportunity to reaffirm the club’s commitment to the motto ‘We Serve’ and to communicate its vision for impactful service.
He thanked members for the support during his tenure and urged them to accord the same support to Aigbedion, expressing confidence that the new District Governor’s “WIRED for Quality” vision will take the organisation to greater heights.
Highpoints of the event was the official presentation of Lion Aigbedion as the new District Governor of D404A2, and the installation of First and Second Vice District Governors, Lion Amapuasenibo Charlz Opusunju and Anthony Adeojo, as well as Regional Chairpersons, Zonal Chairpersons, Committee Chairpersons and Club Presidents by the new District Governor.
