Osun New Era Lions Club, Osogbo members led by the President, Lion Busola Ogundiya, donated educational materials to the Orphanage at the Correctional Centre to commemorate the September Service Activity tagged “International Literacy Day on Thursday, 18th September, 2024.
This initiative is aimed at encouraging the children and showing them that despite their circumstances, there are people who care about their well-being and future.
Speaking during the donation event, Lion Busola Ogundiya, President of the Osun New Era Lions Club, emphasized the importance of the gesture in promoting education and hope among the children.
“We are here to donate back-to-school materials to students of both the orphanage home and the correctional centre.
We are doing this because we are in the month of World Literacy Day, and we want to encourage the students that despite their current conditions, there are people who have their interests at heart and love them,” she said.
Lion Ogundiya also expressed optimism about the children’s futures, urging them to remain hopeful and focused.
“I want to encourage them that there is light at the end of the tunnel. They can’t be here forever. Among them are future presidents and members of the House of Assembly. We know the government cannot do it alone, and we’ll be back to provide more materials, including clothing, sanitary items, and food.”
Also speaking at the event, Lion Oluomo Sunday Akere, Second Vice District Governor of District 404B2 Nigeria. highlighted the club’s focus on literacy for the month of September.
“Every month, we have program activities, and for this month, our focus is on literacy. We decided in our club to give the children in the correctional centre educational materials. My birthday is in September, and I am one of those anchoring this month’s programme,” Akere said.
He explained that the Lions Club regularly engages in community assessment and discovered the needs of the correctional centre during a visit. “When I came to the correctional centre, I felt that the government can’t do it alone, and that’s why we thought of contributing to their well-being, starting with educational materials. Next month, we hope to donate food as part of our continued support.”
Lion Akere encouraged the children not to underestimate their potential, advising them to stay focused on their education and trust in their abilities.
“My advice to people is not to belittle their abilities. Whatever we have, we should use it to support them. They are future leaders, and there’s nothing God can’t do.”
He also called on the government to provide better support in terms of health and education for the children in these institutions. “The government should give them more attention in terms of health and education and support the work that is being done to help them.”
The event is part of the Lions Club’s broader efforts to make a positive impact in the community, particularly in areas of literacy, education, and welfare.
