Lions, United Nations Strengthen Partnership to Advance Sustainable Development and Community Service in Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

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

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

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

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

He noted that for more than a century, Lions worldwide 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-based organisations such as Lions play a vital role in translating global development commitments into tangible results at the grassroots.

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

He added that collaboration between institutions, civil society, and volunteers remains essential in tackling pressing challenges such as poverty, hunger, health inequalities, and climate change.

Also speaking, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (a.i.) of the United Nations in Nigeria, Ms. 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 by the Representative of UN Women to 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, enabling the organisation 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 across the world.

She highlighted that Lions have worked closely with UN agencies including UNICEF, World Health Organization, and UNESCO in implementing humanitarian and development programmes.

According to her, the collaboration remains increasingly important at a time when the world faces complex challenges ranging from climate change and migration to public health crises and rising insecurity.

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

She explained that the United Nations has identified six major transition pathways to accelerate progress on 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 emphasised the central role of gender equality, noting that empowering women and ensuring their participation in leadership and decision-making remain critical to achieving sustainable development and building peaceful societies.

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

Both speakers called for stronger partnerships between international institutions and grassroots organisations, stressing that volunteer-driven initiatives can complement global frameworks and policies by delivering practical solutions in communities.

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

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

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

Speakers at the event urged individuals and organisations to continue promoting compassion, service, and collective action, stressing 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 centre of peacebuilding and security governance in Nigeria if the country hopes to achieve lasting stability.

He insisted that: “Empowering women to lead in peace and security processes is not only a matter of fairness but a strategic necessity for sustainable peace.”

Abdu who was former Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria and Plan International, reflecting on Nigeria’s prolonged security challenges, noted that communities across the country have endured insurgency, banditry, and communal conflicts for decades, lamenting that: “These crises have pushed many communities deeper into vulnerability and strained the resilience of institutions,” but: “Yet within these fragile contexts, women have remained central to sustaining communities and building peace.”

He highlighted that everyday the roles played by women in stabilising communities affected by conflict are often overlooked, stating that: “Across different regions, women have mediated disputes, sustained families under extreme conditions, organised grassroots humanitarian responses, and rebuilt trust within fractured communities.”

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

He pointed to structural barriers that continue to limit women’s participation in leadership and governance. “Women are not absent because they lack competence,” 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 symbolic representation. It must be built on justice, inclusive leadership, and shared responsibility.”

Lions, United Nations Strengthen Partnership to Advance Sustainable Development and Community Service in Nigeria