By Etop Ekanem

LIONS Club International Foundation, LCIF, has awarded the Chairman, SIFAX Group of Company,  Dr Taiwo Afolabi with the Melvin Jones Fellowship for his humanitarian services.

The award was presented to Afolabi in his Murtala Muhammed Airport office by members of Lions Clubs International District 404 A1 Nigeria led by the District Governor, Mr Anogwi Anyanwu. Other members of the team included, District 404A1 Treasurer, Mrs Ada Okorie; District Chief Protocol Officer, Mr Ladi Awotinde; District Chairperson Marketing and Communication/SA Media and Publicity, Mrs Soledotun Abdulkarim-Yusuf, and District Cabinet Secretary, Mr Shamsideen Kareem.

The letter acknowledging Dr Afolabi’s contribution to humanity by Douglas Alexander, Chairman, Lions Club Internationa Foundation read in part: “On behalf of  Lions Club International Foundation, congratulations on becoming a Melvin Jones Fellow.

“Fellowship contributions help to bring medication to prevent river blindness to peple like 67-year-old Hilario and her family or teach children like 12-year-old Stefan to avoid drugs through Lions Quest. 

“Each Melvin Jones Fellowship contribution can restore the sight of 167 individuals or provide Lions Quest to 67 youths. LCIF is able to continue to and expand pragrammes through the generous support of Fellows such as yourself. You should take great pride in knowing you will impact so many lives both in your immediate community as well as across the globe.”

In his response, Afolabi said: “The idea is very thoughtful. We will continue to do our best to impact in the lives of our people. With this award, I want to assure you that I will do more. If I have knew from day one I would have joined the Lions Club. Keep on doing the good thing. We will give support wherever it is needed.”