Liberia Gets Top Regional Post at Lions’ Congress

Liberia has again made headway on the regional scene as one of its eminent sons has scooped a prestigious position at the level of the Lions Club International— one of the world's largest service clubs. 

Clemenceau B. Urey, Sr. was elected 2nd Vice Governor of District 403 A2 at the 11th Congress of the District convened in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, last weekend. District 403-A2 comprises Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Togo, and Liberia. Urey, of the Greater Monrovia Lions Club where he has been a member since 1986, was the preferred candidate of the Lions Clubs of Region 34. He is poised to become the first governor of the group to come from Liberia.

“We are grateful to our fellow lions of the district, especially our Liberian team that attended the congress for the support that made us to emerge victorious,” Urey told the Daily Observer in an exclusive interview on Tuesday. “This is not just a victory for us but a Liberian victory. We are prepared to work and make our country proud as a pacesetter at this level.”

He noted that his overarching goal is to add value to the new team. “My area of expertise is management and administration. So I want to bring my skills to help improve the work of the district as it serves the vulnerable in society. We will grow in strength when we put our all in serving humanity.".

Being an insurance executive who is the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Atlantic Life & General Insurance Company, Urey is the first Liberian to ascend to such a top position in the organization and is in line to reach the pinnacle of its leadership—a feat that has eluded the country for fifty years since the founding of the Liberian chapter.

The Liberian chapter of the International Lions Club is one of the oldest in West Africa after its establishment in 1972. But it is yet to produce a top-level official that would eventually ascend to the governorship of the regional body.

He is now perfectly situated to move up the ladder of the leadership of the regional body — and is poised to eventually become the governor proper. With his election this year as 2^nd Vice Governor, Mr. Urey will become the 1^st Vice Governor next year and in 2024 will become the arrowhead of the district—assuming the governorship of District 403-A2.

The first time Liberia attempted to put someone in the line of leadership was in 1989 when George Tehjani, a Lebanese businessman, was elected as one of the vice governors, but his dream was thwarted by the outbreak of the civil conflict that devastated the nation.

The Greater Monrovia Lions Club, from whence the new vice governor comes, and other clubs in the country continue to be hailed for their humanitarian services rendered to needy Liberians over the years. The Lions Clubs have always been at the forefront of catering to the distressed and delivering services to the needy, especially during the course of the civil conflict and health crises that have engulfed the country.

“We have been involved in catering to the visually impaired, the blind, and the underprivileged,” he said, and in line with its mission, the Lions Club assists the Association of the Blind and indigent homes. Urey added that the Lions Club has endeavored to help establish a dialysis and diabetes education center at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia.

Other members of the Liberian team at the 11^th Congress in Abidjan

In partnership with a U.S based charity, the Lions Club assisted 100 persons in Gbarnga to undergo eye operations, many of whom had their eye sights restored. The Lions Club, in collaboration with the National Cataract Association, was involved in a similar venture in Zorzor, Lofa County in October 2007 when many persons had their sights restored as a result of the ensuing operations.

Before the emphasis of lionism was placed on the blind and underprivileged in the society but now the scope has been broadened to include any area that can improve the quality of life of our people.

“Some of the areas we are now considering are helping children to excel in school, and combating drugs or substance abuse, as well as fight against sexual, gender-based violence,” he noted. “These are the goals we want to see ourselves working towards.”

He indicated that the needs of the Liberian society are many, “so we will do the best we can to help tackle the pressing ones.” The local Lions chapter has also established eye clinics at JFK, where over US$200,000 was spent to buy equipment, and the Jackson Fiah Doe Memorial Hospital in Tappita, Nimba County.

The local Lions Clubs also provided buses for the transporting of staff and patients at the JFK facility. It also provided eyeglasses for those who have difficulties with their sights. The group has also funded eye surgeries for many Liberians.

“We will endeavor to expand our services across the country to areas that will improve the quality of life –be it the environment, social problems such as drug abuse, and many others. Our intervention in these areas, we believe, will help bring relief to our people and our society,” Urey said.

Urey has a vision to ensure that more members are recruited to ensure that the number of clubs is expanded with the thought of making Liberia an independent district of its own.

“We want to expand our clubs to eventually become an independent district,” he said. “Liberia is bigger than the district, so if Togo can be independent we can also do the same. Our only challenge is the economic constraints that most Liberians are facing. It is mandatory that our members pay dues and contribute to projects. Most of our people are not yet financially equipped to contribute to these initiatives and it is affecting recruitment and membership.”

Lions Club International is the world's largest service club. It is in over two hundred countries. The Greater Monrovia Lions Club, which Urey also served as president, was the first club to be established in the country.