Gripped by multiple crises, including a surge in poverty, a burgeoning youth population grappling with rising unemployment and insurgency-induced displacement, Nigeria faces daunting challenges. In this context, Lion Dr. Folasade Shotomide highlights the commendable efforts of the Lions Club in steering the nation’s troubled course toward hope and recovery.
As a distinguished educationist and guidance counsellor, she offers insightful solutions to the escalating problem of drug abuse among youths. She advocates peace and humanitarian initiatives as essential catalysts for Nigeria’s transformation. In this exclusive interview with Toye Faleye, Shotomide shares her vision for a brighter, more resilient Nigeria.
What inspired you to join the Lions Club?
My name is Lion Dr. Folasade Shotomide. What inspired me to join the Lions Club was my quest for an NGO that would allow me to serve people in need, meet new people, and develop my leadership skills.
As the District Governor D404A3 for the 2024/2025 Lion Service Year, how has your tenure positively impacted the people and the society?
As a District Governor, my year had a positive impact on the youth through skill acquisition in agribusiness, benefiting older people, which resulted in producing young breadwinners in families and creating job opportunities. The positive effect, in turn, reduced idleness among the youth, making them proud members of their community.
Could you share some of the success stories or impactful projects that the Lions Club has implemented in Nigeria?
District 404A3 engaged in various community service projects, including free cataract surgery, feeding the hungry, providing free health insurance for older adults, offering provisions for the visually impaired, and screening and providing eyeglasses, as well as white canes. Additionally, it focused on youth empowerment and training in agricultural business. We also embarked on signature projects, such as drilling boreholes in various communities and health centres, installing road directional signs, renovating classroom blocks at different schools, constructing flooring and drainage at Health Centres, and hosting free medical fairs in other communities.
How does the Lions Club come in to provide relief and succour for the IDPs, and particularly offer relief in Nigeria that is beset by insecurity and disaster?
The vision of the Lions Club speaks for itself. The Lions Clubs International vision is to be the global leader in community and humanitarian service.”
This vision is supported by our mission to empower volunteers to serve their communities, meet humanitarian needs, encourage peace, and promote international understanding through Lions clubs.
If all Nigerians key into this vision and work at the mission, we will surely have a transformed nation.
What partnerships or collaborations has the Lions Club established with other organisations or government agencies in Nigeria?
The Lions Clubs International Nigeria’s partnership with the government is evident in many government hospitals, such as Olusola Dada Dialysis and Oncology Centre at LUTH, The Eye Hospital, Osogbo, and Diabetes Clinic at LASUTH, The Paediatric Cancer Caregiver building at FMC, Ebute-Meta, public classroom building, and renovation, among others. We also partner with pharmaceutical companies to donate drugs and test equipment. One success story is the singular donation of corneas by a Lion before he passed away. The corneas were harvested and transplanted into two people, restoring their sight, and both are still living and testifying.
How do you engage with local communities and raise awareness about the Lions Club’s initiatives and goals?
We establish a rapport with the Community Development Associations (CDA) Chairmen. In any community, we form a club and invite them to our various projects. There, we share our stories and encourage them to be Lions.
What challenges does the Lions Club face in your district, and in Nigeria in general, and how do you overcome them?
Challenges faced by the Lions Club include the country’s harsh economy. It makes fundraising a very tough problem, and getting organisations to sponsor is equally challenging. We overcome by tasking ourselves more and making the most of what we have wisely. We also subscribe to our international office and apply for support if available.
As an educator and proprietress of Right Choice School, what should be the ideal curriculum at both primary and secondary school levels in Nigeria?
An ideal curriculum teaches and trains a child in empathy and life skills. This is because it gives the child all they need to love themselves, their neighbour, their country, and be self-reliant. This curriculum needs to start at home, continue in school, and then in society.
As a guidance counsellor, what role should guidance counselling play in the Nigerian society where youths are into social vices, especially drug abuse?
Guidance Counselling should be a vital part of every child’s daily life. It should be established with purpose and intention.
Both home and school must be vigilant and address issues as they emerge. All schools should have guidance counsellors as members of staff.
