Lions and the United Nations strengthen partnership to advance…

The enduring partnership between the United Nations and Lions Clubs International took center stage in Abuja on Thursday as stakeholders gathered to celebrate Lions Day with the United Nations, reaffirming their shared commitment to promoting humanitarian service, sustainable development and peace.

The event, held at United Nations Headquarters, brought together Lions leaders, development partners, civil society actors and representatives from United Nations agencies to reflect on decades of collaboration and explore ways to deepen partnerships in addressing global and local challenges.

Speaking at the meeting, the President of the Multiple Council of Lions in Nigeria, Lion (Dr.) Ibrahim Jide Bello, described the celebration as a powerful symbol of the long-standing relationship between the United Nations and the global service organisation.

According to him, the partnership dates back to 1945, when Lions leaders contributed to discussions on the formation of the United Nations and the framework for civil society engagement.

He noted that for more than a century, Lions around the world have remained committed to humanitarian service guided by their motto “We Serve,” with volunteers supporting initiatives in health, education, food security, environmental protection, disaster response and youth development.

Bello said community organizations like Lions play a vital role in translating global development commitments into tangible results at the local level.

“While the United Nations provides global leadership and frameworks for action, Lions translate these ideals into practical impact within communities where change truly begins,” he said.

He added that collaboration between institutions, civil society and volunteers remains essential to address urgent challenges such as poverty, hunger, health inequalities and climate change.

Additionally, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (ai) in Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, described Lions Day with the United Nations as one of the most enduring examples of cooperation between civil society and the global multilateral body.

Attafuah, representing the Representative of UN Women in Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States, Beatrice Eyong, noted that Lions Clubs International has maintained consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 1947, allowing the organization to contribute community perspectives to global policy discussions.

Attafuah said the partnership between Lions and the United Nations reflects a shared mission to promote peace, expand educational opportunities, reduce poverty, strengthen health systems and support vulnerable communities around the world.

He highlighted that Lions have worked closely with United Nations agencies, including UNICEF, the World Health Organization and UNESCO, in implementing humanitarian and development programs.

She says collaboration remains increasingly important at a time when the world faces complex challenges ranging from climate change and migration to public health crises and growing insecurity.

Attafuah stressed that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 is still possible if governments, civil society organizations and volunteers step up cooperation and focus on key development priorities.

He explained that the United Nations has identified six main transition pathways to accelerate progress towards the goals, including improvements in education, digital connectivity, food systems, energy access and affordability, job creation and social protection, as well as climate and environmental action.

The UN official also highlighted the central role of gender equality, stressing that empowering women and ensuring their participation in leadership and decision-making remains key to achieving sustainable development and building peaceful societies.

“Peace, development and human rights cannot be fully realized without women leading and defining solutions,” she said.

Both speakers called for stronger partnerships between international institutions and grassroots organizations, highlighting that volunteer-led initiatives can complement global frameworks and policies by providing practical solutions in communities.

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Participants at the event also highlighted the potential of countries in the Global South, including Nigeria, to foster innovation and locally-led solutions in addressing development challenges.

They noted that volunteers, community leaders and civil society groups remain key actors in mobilizing citizens, promoting social responsibility and supporting development initiatives that directly improve lives.

The annual celebration of Lions Day with the United Nations provides a platform for dialogue, collaboration and renewed commitment to humanitarian service, while recognizing the critical role of civil society organizations in supporting global development efforts.

Speakers at the event urged individuals and organizations to continue to promote compassion, service and collective action, emphasizing that meaningful change often begins with small but deliberate steps taken within communities.

Meanwhile, the keynote speaker at the event, Dr Hussaini Abdu, said women must move from the margins to the center of peacebuilding and security governance in Nigeria if the country hopes to achieve lasting stability.

She insisted that: “Empowering women to lead peace and security processes is not just a matter of equity, but a strategic necessity for sustainable peace.”

Abdu, former country director of ActionAid Nigeria and Plan International, reflecting on Nigeria’s protracted security challenges, noted that communities across the country have endured insurgencies, banditry and communal conflict for decades, lamenting that: “These crises have pushed many communities even more vulnerable and tested the resilience of institutions,” but: “Yet, within these fragile contexts, women have remained central to supporting communities and building peace.”

She highlighted that every day the role women play in stabilizing conflict-affected communities is often overlooked, saying that: “In several regions, women have mediated disputes, supported families in extreme conditions, organized grassroots humanitarian responses and rebuilt trust within fractured communities.”

She highlighted that despite their contributions, women remain underrepresented in formal peace and security structures. “Women are invited to the table, but they are rarely put in positions where they can influence decisions,” she said, adding that meaningful peace requires women to participate not just symbolically but with real influence.

She highlighted the structural barriers that continue to limit women’s participation in leadership and governance. “Women are not absent because they lack expertise,” she said. “They are excluded because the system was not designed to include them.”

Calling for deeper reforms, he urged stakeholders to rethink power structures in governance and security institutions. “If we are serious about peace, we must be serious about power,” adding that: “A safer Nigeria cannot be built on exclusion or token representation. It must be built on justice, inclusive leadership and shared responsibility.”

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