Lions Club Seeks Greater Support For Literacy, Education In Nigeria

-Organizes Spelling Bee Competition For Osun Schools

The Lions Clubs International District 404B6 Nigeria has called for increased support from government, private organisations and individuals to promote literacy and improve learning opportunities for Nigerian children.

The District Governor, Lion Oluomo Sunday Akere, made the call during a reading and spelling bee competition organised by the district to commemorate the 2026 International Literacy Day at Ibadullahi Caliphate College, Ilobu, Osun State.

Akere said government could not single-handedly address the numerous challenges confronting the education sector, stressing the need for individuals, corporate organisations and other stakeholders to complement government efforts.

He said the initiative was designed to encourage students to cultivate the habit of reading, improve their vocabulary and develop confidence in speaking and communicating effectively.

According to him, the challenges facing young people after graduation should not discourage them from pursuing education, noting that knowledge remained essential to understanding one’s rights and responsibilities.

“Quite a number of our youth today, we say that a lot of people are leaving school and they are not getting jobs. That is not an excuse for you not to be educated,” Akere said.

He added that educated citizens would be better positioned to understand their environment and less vulnerable to manipulation or misinformation.

The programme brought together students from selected schools within the Osun axis of District 404B6, who competed in reading, spelling and pronunciation activities. Akere said a similar programme had earlier been organised for Lions Clubs in the Lagos axis.

He explained that the choice of Ibadullahi Caliphate College was also significant because the school was established by the late Lion Lukman Igbayilola, a member of the organisation who died last year.

Akere said Lions Clubs in the Osun axis had been encouraged to adopt schools and sponsor students to participate in the literacy initiative, noting that about 15 Lions Clubs operated in the axis but only four had so far adopted schools for the programme.

“We know the government alone cannot do it all, and that is why we said as an association, we should support government in encouraging reading and learning,” he said.

Also speaking, the Chairperson of the Reading Action and Spelling Bee Committee for District 404B6 for the 2026–2027 Lions Service Year, Lion Dr. Matthew Obasoha, said the programme formed part of Lions Clubs International’s commitment to literacy initiatives linked to the United Nations.

Obasoha said the organisation had continued to support literacy programmes while pursuing its other global humanitarian causes, adding that the event was also held in honour of the late Lion Igbayilola, who was actively involved in the district’s activities.

He urged government to invest more in improving the learning environment, saying students would perform better when provided with conducive facilities.

While expressing satisfaction with the participation of students from public schools, Obasoha noted that the ICT centre at the host school demonstrated that efforts to improve educational standards could produce positive results.

He, however, appealed for increased government investment in education to encourage more private organisations and individuals to support schools.

“Lions, in their own wisdom, are trying, in their own way, to augment whatever the government is giving, but they should also do more so that other private participants will also come in, key in, and support them in whatever they are doing,” he said.

The Osun Axis Coordinator for the District 404B6 Reading and Spelling Competition, Lion O.K. Faniran, said the initiative had exposed students to proper reading, pronunciation and spelling, while also boosting their confidence.

Faniran urged the participants to apply the lessons learnt beyond the competition, stressing that good communication should become part of their