By Seyi Taiwo-Oguntuase
Lion Mary Onu, the newly installed District Governor of Lions International District 404A3, Nigeria, is a woman whose life reflects a deep commitment to service, education, and empowerment. With a rich academic background spanning Nigeria, the UK, France, and the U.S., and over a decade of leadership within Lions Clubs International, she brings global experience and a nurturing spirit to her role. As a mathematician, educator, entrepreneur, humanitarian and the founder of St. Andrew’s Crèche, Nursery, and Afterschool in Lekki, Lagos, she is leading a bold vision to raise N100 million for education, healthcare, women and youth empowerment, and environmental conservation. In this interview with SEYI TAIWO-OGUNTUASE, she shares her journey and plans for impactful leadership. Excerpt:
You have a rich leadership history within Lions Club International. What unique vision are you bringing into your tenure as District Governor of 404A3?
My journey through Lions Clubs International has been deeply rooted in service, mentorship and impact-driven leadership. As I step into the role of Dis-trict Governor for 404A3, my vision is clear, to empower the quality of service by strengthening and supporting our clubs.
Having served in various leadership capacities—District Global Leadership coordinator, I have come to understand that sustainable impact begins with equipped, visible, and vibrant clubs. This tenure will focus on enhancing club au-tonomy, ensuring that each club executes distinct, meaningful projects while being well-supported and well-recognized.
Beyond that, I’m deeply passionate about engaging more young people in leadership, encouraging collaborative service models and prioritizing impact-ful humanitarian projects that respond to real community needs.
Ultimately, I believe our greatest strength lies in our ability to work as one while shining as individuals. My vision is to reignite our passion for service en-suring that every Lion, every club, and every community feels the strength of our service.
You’ve set an ambitious N100 million fundraising target for service projects. What strategies will you use to mobilize support and ensure transparency and accountability?
Yes, the N100 million target is indeed ambitious but it is purpose-driven and deeply rooted in our commitment to transforming lives through service. My strategy draws from a simple but pro-found truth I hold dear, inspired by the CNN African Voices feature: “The pow-er of little drops makes an ocean.” This guiding principle reminds us that when many people give a little, great things become possible.
Our fundraising strategy is multi-lay-ered: First, we will mobilize every club to take ownership of the goal. Rather than relying solely on large donations, we’re building a model that welcomes many small streams, engaging members, friends, partners and local businesses to contribute meaningfully. Each club will have fundraising targets tied to specific, visible service outcomes within their communities, which makes giving more relatable and compelling.
Second, we’re opening our doors to external partnerships, corporate bodies, NGOs, foundations and individuals who align with our humanitarian causes in areas such as mental health, diabetes, childhood cancer, vision, environment, youth development, hunger and disaster relief.
To ensure transparency and account-ability, we have appointed Chairpersons for all committees, each tasked with maintaining clear documentation and upholding reporting standards. These committees will provide periodic up-dates, supported by project showcases that highlight the impact of our collec-tive efforts. Every kobo donated will be carefully tracked and reported through accessible channels, including digital dashboards and regular stakeholder briefings, ensuring that all contributors can see the real value of their support.
How do you plan to measure the long-term impact of these service projects in the communities you serve?
Measuring long-term impact is es-sential, not just for accountability, but for learning, improving, and inspiring continued service. As District Governor, I am committed to making sure that ev-ery project we execute leaves a visible, sustainable footprint in the lives of those we serve.
Firstly, all Lions service projects are reported on Lions Clubs International’s global reporting platform, which allows us not only to track our activities locally, but also to see how our efforts compare to global benchmarks. This platform helps us quantify beneficiaries, volun-teer hours, partnerships, and the scope of impact, allowing for transparency, analysis and global visibility.
But beyond data, I believe true impact is seen in the stories that endure after the banners are folded. That’s why we will build in mechanisms for communi-ty feedback, follow-up visits and impact storytelling.
Ultimately, long-term impact is mea-sured by how well we uplift lives and by ensuring that every service project is not just an event, but a lasting investment in humanity.
You’re a passionate advocate for women and youth empowerment. How do you plan to expand oppor-tunities for these groups within and beyond Lions Club?
Empowering women and young peo-ple isn’t just a priority for me, it’s a core part of how I lead and serve. I strongly believe that when you equip a woman or a young person with the right tools, you multiply impact across families, commu-nities and generations.
Within Lions, I plan to create inten-tional pathways for women and young Lions to rise in leadership, have access to mentors and lead service with confi-dence. We will spotlight their strengths, create visibility for their projects, and encourage clubs to involve more young people not just as members but as leaders and change makers.
For youth, we’ve already taken con-crete steps. I’m proud to share that we’ve secured 20 training slots for our younger wing, the Leos, at The YAP Career Cen-tre, under the programme titled ‘Bridge the Gap; Step into the Future.’ This ini-tiative is designed to give them an edge as they transition into the real world, empowering them to launch confident-ly, implement what they’ve learned and build purposeful futures.
In addition, we have secured 50 places with FATE Foundation for our young li-ons to complete a certified Introduction to Entrepreneurship training. This will not only open their minds to innovation but also position them to become job cre-ators and community leaders.
Beyond Lions, I’m committed to building partnerships with organiza-tions that align with these values, or-ganizations that will provide platforms for women and youth to learn, lead, and serve with passion.
Given your success in a range of male-dominated fields from tech to leadership, what advice would you give young girls aiming for similar paths?
I always tell young girls this: You belong in every room where decisions are made. Whether it’s in technology, leadership, or community development, don’t wait for permission to lead, step in, learn, and lead with purpose.
Coming from a background that intersects education, technology and leadership, within and beyond Lions Clubs International, I’ve walked into many rooms where women were few. But I never allowed that to limit me. What has sustained me through the journey is a firm foundation of passion, prepa-ration and purpose and those are the same tools I encourage every young girl to carry with her.
I urge them to build confidence early, stay curious, seek mentors and never be afraid to try, fail and try again. The world needs their voices, their ideas and their leadership. And they must know they are not alone, we are here, cheering them on and holding the door open wider than we found it.
As District Governor, with the theme Passion for Service, I am especially inten-tional about creating platforms where girls can be mentored, trained, and em-powered, not just as future leaders, but as leaders of the now.
That’s why I remind them: Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s timeline. Make conscious choices that align with your values and long-term goals. Surround yourself with people who inspire you. Choose friends wisely. Invest in your growth. Find a role mod-el, someone whose life reflects integrity, discipline and purpose and let their ex-ample guide you.
Your career spans education, entrepreneurship, and humanitarian service. What moment or experi-ence most shaped your passion for service?
There have been many meaningful moments in my journey, but one experi-ence truly cemented my understanding of what it means to serve and the power we hold when we serve together.
Years ago, my sister came to me with a troubling report. She had discovered a community nearby where children of her workers were falling ill and dy-ing. She was alarmed and so was I. The very moment she shared this with me, I turned to my Lions Club platform and posted an urgent appeal, not thinking much about what would happen next but simply acting from my heart.
Within 24 hours, the Ministry of Health had responded. They arrived in that community, identified the issue as measles and immediately vaccinated the children. Lives were saved. It was at that moment I realized the true power of service, not just in titles or speeches but in action. One message. One platform. The Lions club. And lives were changed.
That experience awakened some-thing in me. It showed me that as Lions, we are part of a local and global network that can move mountains when we work with purpose. It was no longer about sim-ply being a member, it was about using the privilege of service to intervene, re-spond and uplift communities.
How has your global educational journey from Nigeria to France to the UK influenced your leadership style and worldview?
And the USA too. Harvard at that. My global educational journey from my early years in Zambia through studies in Nigeria, France, the UK, and even Harvard in the USA, has profoundly in-fluenced my leadership style and world-view. Growing up and attending nursery and primary school in Zambia gave me a strong foundation in empathy, humility, and community spirit. Nigeria nurtured my resilience and passion for service. France taught me discipline and a global appreciation for structure and nuance. The UK enhanced my strategic thinking and collaborative leadership, while Har-vard stretched my capacity to innovate, lead boldly, and connect across cultures. All these experiences have made me a compassionate, inclusive leader, deeply committed to education, community transformation, and service that empow-ers others, especially children.
Looking beyond your tenure, what legacy do you hope to leave for the district and the broader Lions community?
Looking beyond my tenure, I hope to leave a legacy of compassionate, pur-pose-driven service that inspires conti-nuity and growth across Lions District 404A3. I want to be remembered as a leader who led with heart, one who em-powered clubs to take ownership of im-pactful, independent projects, especially those focused on children, education, and vulnerable communities. My dream is to see a district where mentorship thrives, where younger Lions are nurtured and equipped to lead, and where our human-itarian footprint is visible and lasting. I hope my time as District Governor plants seeds of bold, collaborative ser-vice that continue to flourish long after my term ends.