.As District 404A2 Presents New District Governor, Aigbedion In Rivers
By Our Correspondent
Lions Clubs International District 404A2 has unveiled plans to empower over 18,700 young Nigerians as part of its humanitarian activities for the 2026 service year.
The District Governor, Lion Engr. Edward Aigbedion disclosed this while briefing journalists on Thursday in Port Harcourt ahead of his formal presentation scheduled to hold on Saturday, August 22, 2026 at the EUI Event Centre in Rivers State.
Aigbedion said proposed empowerment of atleast 18,750 young Nigerians will be driven alongside healthcare contributions to include; sight preservation, diabetes and childhood cancer as the four key priorities of the administration in the service year.
Aigbedion disclosed that the Saturday’s presentation of the District Governor will also serve as a fundraising and partnership platform to support the new service year agenda.
He noted that the event in Port Harcourt is expected to boost the local economy and provide employment by puting money in pockets of traders, transporters and entrepreneurs, with over 750 Lions (members) expected in attendance and hotels already booked.
“The presentation is not merely a ceremony to formally present the District Governor to the public. It is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the Lions motto, ‘We Serve,’ and to mobilize resources for sustainable community projects.
“We are gathering to serve, inspire and create lasting impact in the society,” he said.
The District Governor added that as part of it’s activities, in Rivers State, the district will provide start-up equipment to graduates of the State Craft Development Centre, after an ongoing training by the Club, saying, “Tailoring graduates will receive sewing machines, auto-mechanics graduates will get complete toolboxes, with similar support planned for other vocational trades.”
Aigbedion explained that the initiative is designed to help young people convert their skills into sustainable livelihoods and reduce youth restiveness in states and Society.
He said his administration will operate under the “Welfare, Integrity, Respect, Excellence and Discipline,” WIRED for Quality Service philosophy, and called on government, corporate organizations and the public to support the Lions’ humanitarian efforts.
Also speaking, Past District Governor, Lion Linda Odu-Okpesegi, said the empowerment drive builds on the organization’s existing interventions across the country.
Odu-Okpesegi listed past projects to include renovation of the School of Special Needs in Port Harcourt, schools renovation and provision of seats in Kaduna, and donation relief materials and medical outreach to flood-affected communities in Bayelsa and Rivers States, particularly the Orashi region, as well as provision of social amenities in rural communities.
She said the District 404A2 of the organisation has also carried out regular eye checks, partnered with hospitals in Bonny and Port Harcourt, donating medical facilities to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital UPTH, and supported the construction of an eye theatre in Cross River State. Other interventions include diabetes centres, scholarships, literacy programmes, libraries and tree planting.
“Our aim is to get to the poorest of the poor,” Odu-Okpesegi said.
On the proposed empowerment scheme, the Past District Governor said the project has a broader target to reach 18,750 youths across various states in Nigeria with skills and start-up support.
“On the 14th of November being World Diabetes Day, all 75 clubs in District 404A2 Nigeria, shall be screening a minimum of 250 people. The screening will be done simultaneously in Rivers, Akwa Ibom, in the north, East and everywhere we have Lions Club in in Nigeria. At the end of the day we will have 18,750 Nigerians screened. That’s how we want to celebrate the day,” She said.
Chairman of the District Governor Presentation Committee, Lion Onarire Asifor, said activities for the Presentation ceremony began Thursday with courtesy visits and a hospitality night, to be followed by officers’ training and a cabinet meeting on Friday, before the formal presentation on Saturday.
