New Abuja Supreme Lions Club President Unveils ‘Project See Again’ For Free Catarac Surgeries.

By Chiamaka Livingstone

The President of the Lions Club International, Abuja Supreme Lions Club District 404 A2, Nigeria, Lion Nengi Linda Chizoba, has underscored the need to reach out to the less privileged in communities and put smiles on their faces.

Speaking in Abuja on Sunday during Fundraising and Investiture Ceremony of Lion Nengi as the 4th President of the Club for 2026-2027, and the induction of her Club Officers, Lion Nengi said her Theme for the year which is “Service From the the Soul”, aligns with their International President’s theme, and their core Lions focus – Restoring Sight.

In her acceptance speech, Lion Nengi said her major service project for this year was is to carry out free cataract surgery for 50 people, or more.

“We shall call it “PROJECT SEE AGAIN – From Darkness to Light. Our target beneficiaries are market women, aged fathers, artisans, and widows in our rural communities who have lost their sight to cataract and have been abandoned to fate”, she said .

She said the project among others will include free screening and identification, in partnership with ophthalmologists, also, free cataract extraction surgery and intraocular lens implant.

“Free post-operative drugs and glasses. The goal is not just to give them sight, but to restore their dignity, independence, and ability to fend for themselves.
As Helen Keller said, the only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.
Today, we will give them vision”, Lion Nengi said.

She highlighted that some are experiencing avoidable blindness due to limited access to funds and care.

“It is not everybody that is blind that is supposed to be blind. A lot of people are blind just because they have no one to assist them, no one to help, they just take it as fate, but it’s actually not fate.

“So, we want to go into the remote communities, we want to go fish them out, we want to go find out what is going on. We need people to get back, let them just not be hopeless, let them be helpful to themselves and be able to do one or two things for themselves”, she said.

She said her tenure is targeted at the less privileged, to put a smile on their faces as they visit motherless babies homes, old people’s home, noting that a little token can make a great difference.

“I’m giving my own seed myself. It’s a commitment. It’s a childhood desire to make people happy, and I’m excited that I have a platform in Leonism to be able to showcase what I actually want to do, so, I’m happy.

The project is expected to cost approximately N14 Million to N16 Million. She therefore made a passionate appeal to her Board, members of the Club, friends and partners to key into this vision, and sponsor a surgery or two.

“I have already committed my personal seed, and I am confident that with your support, we will not only do 50, but we can do more than 100, I pledge to lead with transparency, inclusiveness, and accountability. I will run an administration where every member will be carried along. We will not only serve, we will
have fun in service.

“We will grow our membership and we will make our Club visible. We will support and participate in impactful collaborations with fellow clubs. Giving Back to Our Roots, through impactful and intellectual projects, publications, and community service”, she said.

She urged the members to join hands and build a club that connects and lends helping hands through collective efforts thiving on compassion, commitment and inclusion.

In her speech, the Investiture Committee Chairperson, Lion Dr. Prince Jessy Val, said they are committed to more impactful collaborations in ensuring better fulfilment and visibility to communities in and around them.

“while upholding our Lions International motto “We Serve”. Giving life a meaning even in any small measure is a great fit, this is the reason we need all of us to collectively make a difference”, she said.

She therefore urged everyone to join them in the noble course to add value to the lives of the less previleged in communities.

In his valedictory speech, the out-gone President of the Club, Lion. Engr. Goodluck Chinyere, said while leadership positions may change, the responsibility to serve humanity remains constant.

“When I assumed the mantle of leadership, I understood that the office of the President was not a title to be celebrated, but a responsibility to be discharged. I knew that the true value of my presidency would not be measured by the length of my tenure, the number of meetings held, or the applause received, but by the difference we were able to make in the lives of people within our community”, he said.

The occasion renewed enthusiasm and courage to do more to give back to the society, and give a meaning to the lives of the less privileged to live a more dignified life.