“A Lifeline on Water, A Bridge to a Brighter Future”
In a landmark gesture of service and humanity, Ikeja Exclusive Lions Club on June 15, 2025, commissioned and donated a 30-seater boat to serve as a safe and reliable means of transportation for schoolchildren living in the famous Makoko community of Lagos.
Makoko, often described as the “Venice of Africa,” is a floating slum community built on stilts along the Lagos Lagoon. Home to thousands, many of whom are impoverished or orphaned, the residents live daily on water. With limited infrastructure, especially for education, the children of Makoko often face a harsh reality, without a boat, they simply cannot go to school. For many, access to education depends entirely on their ability to navigate the waters each day under the harsh sun or pouring rain.
Understanding this critical need, Ikeja Exclusive Lions Club intervened with a legacy project aimed at restoring hope and dignity to the children of Makoko. The newly donated 30-seater boat will now serve as a lifeline, ensuring that children in the community have safe, daily access to their schools. Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, the Club President, Lion Felix Oyailo NLCF, emphasized the club’s unwavering commitment to education and equity: “It is our goal that no child should miss school because of where they live or because of the condition of their environment. This boat is more than transportation; it is a promise that their dreams are valid and within reach.”
District Governor Lion Tolulope Senbanjo PMJF, NLCF, who graced the occasion, extolled the club’s impactful intervention, praising their foresight and compassion, he said “This is not just the donation of a boat; it is the gifting of hope. Today, we are not just helping children cross water, we are helping them cross into a future of opportunity, education, and endless possibilities.”
One of the community leaders who spoke at the event expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Lions Club for remembering the forgotten corners of society. In his words, “This boat is not just a vessel, it is a lifeline. It will not only ease transportation but will also support education. We are grateful to the Lions for their love, compassion, and humanity.” The highlight of the day came when one of the children, visibly emotional and joyful, spoke on behalf of the others. With folded hands and a heart full of gratitude, the child thanked the Lions Club and prayed for God’s continued blessings on all members of the club.
This legacy project is a profound reflection of what it means to serve. It stands as a shining reminder that the true essence of humanity is not in being human, but in being humane. As Lions, the call to serve is not a slogan, it is a way of life. And on this day in Makoko, that life-changing call was answered by Ikeja Exclusive Lions Club with compassion and courage.
Where there is a need, there is a Lion.
