ABEOKUTA– About 3500 students of African Church Primary School, Owu in Abeokuta has benefitted from the Lions Club donation of educational materials and clothing in commemoration of the World Lion Service/Children Service Day.
The Lions Club District 404B1 Nigeria who made the donations thursday also planted 80 trees round the school
The District Governor of the club Lion Oluremi Lynda Odunmbaku recalled that the club was founded about 103 years ago in Chicago in United States of America (USA) by Melvin Jones with over 1.4 members across the globe at now.
she further explained that the club is non-religious group, non-political and not a secret cult, adding that it has been dedicated that every October 8 is to mark the foundation of the club worldwide.
“The 8th day of October every year, world lion service day is a day when lions are proud to show the world what lionism stands for. Here in District 404 B1 Nigeria, with the help of our students from African Church Primary School, Owu ,Ita Iyalode, Abeokuta, we plant a few trees alongside the fence of the school. We hope the plants will be properly nurtured”, she said.
Speaking on the planted tree round the four walls of the school, she said “I am sure these pupils are looking foward to taking part in the tree planting activity as some of them may be doing it for the first time
“We urge the teachers to ensure pupils water and take care of their plants everyday before and after classes, adding that the benefits of tree planting is enormous, which includes aesthetics helps beautify of the school and community, improve health by cleaning the air and protecting children from pollutants”
The Governor added other benefits as protecting school from flooding by intercepting runoffs thereby reducing severity of flood, trees also improve soil water conservation by providing shade, regulating temprature extremes.
Odunmbaku noted that trees improves land’s capacity to adapt to climate change and increase wide life habit, stressing that it is therefore without doubt that the choice of this particular activity is the perfect and benefitting these children in no small measure.
The Chairperson of the Committee, Lion Yemi Olanrewaju who is a retired Permanent Secretary enjoined all other members around the world to show by example the objectives of lionism and ethical practices which the club upholds, stressing that that was the essence of the spirit which unite them together
“On this day, we show our community what lionism is all about. This is not just symbolic. It encompasses the many uncountable good works that Lions routinely do for others as we work”, Olanrewaju said.
