The Day Maryland Royal Lions Club Installed President Khadeejat Akanni-Allimmi

For members of the Maryland Royal Lions Club, a chapter of the Lions Club International, there couldn’t have been a better way to round off the service year than last Sunday’s event.

It was the investiture ceremony as president, of one of the club’s long-serving and diligent members, Khadeejat Akanni-Alilimi, and they came out strongly to, as usual play vital roles.

They were joined by colleagues, family, friends and associates, at Tax Professionals House, at Ikeja Central Business District, where the investiture ceremony took place.

Spiced with a public presentation and a fund-raising, the day had for attendees, many morals to take home, one being that life is more meaningful when lived imparting other lives.

And this, the day’s celebrant, had done, using the philanthropic platform provided by Maryland Royal Lions Club. She had, soon after joining the club in 2001, became secretary and then the club’s vice president, plunging headlong into its internal and external activities with remarkable performances to show.

Her activity calendar from just July 2024 to the investiture date was a pout-pouri of interventions, undertaken either on solo basis or in collaboration with other philanthropic bodies and agencies.

There had been no less than 36 such projects and programmes, covering different areas of need in the community. They include free health screening outreaches, capacity building gprogrammes for different categories of persons and vocational training.

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Others are awareness programmes for total wellbeing, literacy and leadership training, environmental cleanliness campaigns and donation to relevant institutions and organisations in the society.

District Governor, Lion Tolulope Senbanjo eulogises new President Khadeejat Akanni-Allimmi(left) and right, outgoing president, Lion Dcns Bukola Soaga Bada handing over

It was not a surprise therefore, when Chairman on the day, Hon Rahman Akanni Owokoniran, lavished fond words on both the club and the incoming president when it was time for him to speak.

“It is indeed most fulfilling to note that, despite the difficulties; economically and socially, coupled with the daily life of hassling these days, some organisations such as Maryland Royal Lions Club still deem it fit to reach out to the needy in the society by engaging in charitable works; directly or indirectly, proving services to support government initiatives such as helping the needy in the local community”, he said..

The new president with members in group photograph

Then he went on: “You will all agree with me here that creating time out of our busy schedules and deploying financial resources for provision of tangible assistance to society is extremely heartwarming.. “The incoming president happens to be the wife of one of my young aburos, Otunba Abdulraman Afolabi Akanni Allimi whom I have known about four decades ago, specifically since 1986.

“I have excellent regard for him and his wife.

“It is also worthy to note that although the incoming fifth president started her career as a media practitioner, she is also a chartered Tax Practitioner like her husband,

Giving the weight of both husband and wife in the financial world, I make bold to say that the reign of Lion Khadeejat Abosede Mojisola Akanni-Alimmi NCLF will be the most successful and memorable one in the best traditions of this great club”, the chairman said.

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Speaking, the Chairman of the Investiture Planning Committee, Lion Abiola Hotonu-Bababunmi prefaced her presentation with Denzel Washington’s philosophical statement of: “At the end of the day, it’s not about what you have or even what you’ve accomplished… It’s about what you’ve given back”,

She informed the gathering that Maryland Royal Lions Club targets N30 million for its legacy project (construction of playground and four toilets for special needs children) at GRA Primary School Ogudu Ojota and other core activities.

“The club has undertaken various monthly projects since the beginning of this Lions year and wishes to do more to impact the lives and meet the needs of the community. Service is our way of life”.

“I am extremely lucky to have an intelligent vibrant and active president whose passion about serving the needy is top notch. All these made my job very easy”.

Guest speaker, Dr Oluwakemi Akintoyese, a Clinical Psychologist, did a commendable job of pointing out for the distinguished audience, the danger of taking one’s health matters for granted, but to seek experts’ opinion and quality diagnoses from time to time.

She underpinned her obviously well-researched presentation, on this need for people to take personal responsibility for their wellbeing, especially against the backdrop of increasing economic hardship and political pressure in the country.

Also speaking, immediate past president for the 2022/23 Lion Service Year, Lion Dcns Bukola Soaga, listed environment projects, pediatric cancer programme, vision, diabetes, hunger relief and disaster management as areas covered by the club in her service year

According to her, “Despite the economic crunch with the very high dollar exchange which impacted negatively on our economy, thereby translating to reduced financial strength by most members, we give glory to God who saw us through and helped us achieve our aim”.

All these paved away for service marching orders on Khadeejat Akanni-Allimi as incoming president Maryland Royal Lions Club , an assignment performed by none other than District Governor, Lion Tolulope Ayodeji Senbanjo, who indeed umpired other vital aspects of the coronation.

“As you embark on this journey”, he began, “I am reminded of our theme for the year: Service first: Creating A Lasting Impact

“May this theme guide you and inspire you to strive for excellence in all your endeavours”, he admonished the day’s stallion.

Accepting the challenge to steer Maryland Royal Lions Club, Khadeejat Akanni-Allimi, who did leave landmarks as Advert and Special Projects units of the largest media conglomerate of its time, The Daily Times Of Nigeria (DTN), expressed appreciation to the board and members for the confidence reposed in her.

She recalled how she immediately fell in love with its orientation and philosophies, immediately upon coming in contact with the club.

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Reiterating the N30 million target, she thanked those who have already keyed in, imploring others to follow suit.

“I was a Lion at heart, but the Lions International opened the vista to express my inmate Lion Capacity to serve as well as touch more lives than I would have

“This wouldn’t have been possible though, if I did not have the encouragement and support of my darling husband, Otunba Abdulrahman Afolabi Akanni-Allimi.

“Thank you for being my backbone and pillar of strength”.

She was equally full of appreciation to her children, the district governor, and other leaders of the club in their different capacities.

“To everyone here today, I thank you for honouring God in me by giving time out of your busy schedules to grace this occasion. Your gifts of love will make life better for uncountable numbers of people and will not go unrewarded”.

Indeed, it was a day in which the honouree shone like a million stars, receiving accolades here, courtesying there and generally rallying with other club members to ensure everything went well.