District Multiple 403 - 45th Convention COCODAKAR 2026

We serve a world of needs.

One altruistic gesture after another.

WHO WE ARE

We are the world's largest community service organization. Lions Clubs International is a global volunteer network present in more than 200 countries. Our mission: to serve communities where needs are greatest.

District Multiple 403 covers 22 African countries, bringing together over 9,400 Lions and 3,200 Leos who act daily to transform their environment. Since 1957, DM403 has been carrying out concrete actions in health, education, environment and economic development.

Our motto, "We Serve", sums up our daily commitment. Joining the Lions means joining a worldwide family of over 1.4 million members who share the same values of integrity, service and leadership.

As of July 1, 2026

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"Lionism is an exceptional human adventure where every gesture counts."

President of the Council of Governors

Discover the vision and commitment of the one who leads the destiny of District Multiple 403

VICENTIA BOCO

President of the Council of Governors

"Committed to impactful service."

Professor of Medical Imaging and Beninese academic, Vicentia BOCO is a pioneering figure in medicine and higher education in sub-Saharan Africa.

The first francophone radiologist in sub-Saharan Africa, she also served as Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Benin in 2007.

Committed to promoting women's leadership and equal opportunity, she chaired the National Institute for the Promotion of Women (INPF).

A woman of science, leadership and dedication to society.

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Strategic Vision of the PCG

Click on an axis to discover its full content

AXIS 1

STRENGTHEN OUR MEMBERSHIP

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AXIS 2

ENHANCE THE IMPACT OF OUR SERVICE

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AXIS 3

INNOVATE AND DIVERSIFY

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AXIS 1: STRENGTHEN OUR MEMBERSHIP

This axis will be a priority. Strengthening our membership is a permanent challenge that I invite us to take on. Indeed, we recruit as many members as we lose. This trend, established for several years, weakens our association because each lost Lion is not only a wasted potential but also lost capacity for reflection and action, arms missing from the collective effort. It is also unfortunately a disappointed friend and a potential detractor of our association in favor of other organizations pursuing the same social objectives and the same ideals as us.

To reverse the trend, I will propose to the governors to focus efforts on member satisfaction, the search for a climate of conviviality and harmony in our clubs in order to improve retention while working on extension. To achieve this, we must transform our differences into assets and potentialities so as to benefit from the skills and capacities of each Lion. Alone we can do a lot, but together we do so much more and better! Because a satisfied Lion is a happy, loyal and effective Lion. Lions International provides us with the necessary methods and tools to achieve this objective. We will need to popularize these tools by adapting them to our context.

AXIS 2: ENHANCE THE IMPACT OF OUR SERVICE

This axis will mobilize our efforts, and will be carried by the teams of governors, who will have to pay particular attention to the quality of our service actions, the only guarantee of a real impact in our communities. We say it over and over again: service is our reason for being, it is one of — or rather the main — reason why we joined our association. I therefore wish to exhort clubs through governors to make relevant choices of actions strongly correlated with the actual needs of the communities we serve.

It is worth recalling that Lions International allows us to add to our action plan, in addition to its priority axes, one or two specific axes of our choice, relating to local issues and needs. By doing so, we can bring about qualitative changes in our communities while allowing our association to remain the largest service club organization in the world and the one that provides concrete solutions to community needs. Going to communities certainly means helping them, but it also means having the satisfaction of respecting our pledge while improving our visibility. The key to achieving this objective will be a strategic approach to service, including identifying the real needs of communities, choosing efficient execution methods to optimize our resources. To achieve this, we will need to widely disseminate and use the service planners already available on the Lions International platform and help clubs to appropriate them for greater impact.

AXIS 3: INNOVATE AND DIVERSIFY

This will be our third axis of action. During this mandate, I would like to invite us to innovate: Innovate by using the new technical and technological means at our disposal; Innovate by making our differences an asset. Innovation also allows us to rationalize our resources for more convincing results.

Thus, the more than 14,000 members who make up our Multiple District come from various backgrounds, languages and cultures, but these differences must become riches and not obstacles to our action. Our diversity must be an asset that offers us the opportunity to enrich each other. We must work together and move forward harmoniously. Technological tools, particularly AI, offer us an unprecedented potential to overcome the barriers of geographical space and language. This is why I wish that we all make the effort to appropriate these new technologies so as to improve our results.

Support Team

The collaborators of the President of the Council of Governors

NARCISSE AZA

Treasurer

Razack AKADIRI

Chief of Protocol

Christine AHOUANDJINOU

Secretary

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Deputy Secretary Treasurer

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1st Deputy Protocol

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Deputy Communication

Permanent Secretary of DM403

The memory and coordination of District Multiple 403

Dr Daouda DIALLO

Permanent Secretary of DM403

"The District's memory is the key to our future."

The Permanent Secretariat is based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. It ensures the District's memory regarding texts and archives. Its main mission is to assist the President of the Council of Governors in coordinating DM activities.

Access Platforms

International President 2026-2027

Mark S. LYON — "Rooted in Service"

Mark S. LYON

International President 2026-2027

"Rooted in Service"

A member of the Brookfield (Connecticut) Lions Club since 1996, Mark S. Lyon has devoted more than 40 years to financial and legal services. He has held numerous major responsibilities: International Director, multiple district council president, member of the LCI Forward team. His vision for 2026-2027 is to strengthen the impact of Lions around the world.

Our Governors

Yasser ALNABHANI

District 403 A1

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Jean-Pierre HILLAH

District 403 A2

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Arouna NIKIEMA

District 403 A3

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Arsène SOGLO

District 403 A4

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Eric CASTANOU

District 403 B1

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Our Leaders of Constitutional Area 8 - AFRICA

Mama TAPO

LCIF CA Leader (RC 8)

Mariam D. TOUNKARA

LCIF Area Leader (Zone A)

ADINGA ITSOUHOU

GAT Area Leader (Zone A)

Daniel SAMPAH

LCIF Area Leader (Zone A)

Our Meetings

COCODAKAR 2026

From May 6 to 10, 2026, Dakar hosted the 45th Congress-Convention of District Multiple 403. Five days of gathering with thousands of Lions, Leos, institutional partners and entrepreneurs from 22 countries.

The DM Business Forum and DM403 Web TV were launched during this historic event.

Our Meetings

AFRICA FORUM 2026

The 7th Lions and Leos Africa Forum 2026 promises to be an exceptional event!
From November 18 to 21, 2026
Royal Aria Convention Centre – Gaborone, Botswana.
Don't wait, register today!

Online Registration

News

Bulletin No. 1 from Governor Jean Pierre Mawulolo Hillah - District 403 A2

FRIENDSHIP, THE REAL ONE, AT THE HEART OF LIONS SERVICE.

Read the Bulletin

News

LIONS RETURN 2026-2027

On Saturday, July 25, 2026, the banquet hall of Ouaga 2000 vibrated to the rhythm of a historic moment for District 403 A3.
The Lions Return, the first major activity of the 2026-2027 mandate, brought together Lions from District 403 A3 around a single commitment: to serve, again and always.
This ceremony was held under the Patronage of Comrade Karamoko Jean Marie TRAORE, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Burkina Faso, with as Sponsor PPCG Lassine Diawara and as Special Guest Jean-Luc Konan, represented by Comrade Hervé ZONGO.
Our supervisory ministry, the Ministry of Family and Solidarity of Burkina Faso, as well as the Commune of Ouagadougou, also honored us with their presence, demonstrating the importance of Lions' action in the service of communities.
The highlight of this return was undoubtedly the investiture of Governor Arouna Nikiema. A solemn moment, charged with emotion and symbolism, during which each could measure the importance of the mission that lies ahead.
A special mention to the Governors of Districts 403 A3, 403 A2 and 403 A4 Benin, who came with strong delegations to show their friendship, their fraternity and their support to our Governor.
District 403 A3 also expresses its deep gratitude to Professor Serge BAYALA, President of the Confederation Bank of Investment and Development, for the quality of his communication and for sharing with the participants an enriching reflection on the occasion of this return.
The major axes of the mandate are now mapped out. Mobilization and motivation of members are on track.
A new adventure begins. A new year of service opens before us.
Together, let us continue our commitment to serving our communities. Arouna Nikiema at Ouaga 2000.

"Let's dare the impossible!"

News

ELLI 2026

From April 17 to 19, 2026, Lomé hosted an ELLI training session, offering participating Lions a great opportunity to strengthen their leadership skills, share their experiences and better prepare to take on leadership responsibilities within their clubs. An enriching experience in service of the development of Lion leaders and our communities.

Upcoming Event

DM403 COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS

The first DM403 Council of Governors will be held on November 17, 2026, at the Avani Hotel in Gaborone, Botswana.

"Committed to impactful service!"

Vicentia BOCO,
Chairperson of the Council of Governors

AGENDA

The District Multiple 403 agenda will be published soon. In the meantime, find meetings and appointments of the mandate in the News section.

GALLERY

Find all the highlights of District Multiple 403

Yasser ALNABHANI

Governor 403 A1

Jean-Pierre HILLAH

Governor 403 A2

Arouna NIKIEMA

Governor 403 A3

Arsène SOGLO

Governor 403 A4

Eric CASTANOU

Governor 403 B1

VICENTIA BOCO

President of the Council

Dr Daouda DIALLO

Permanent Secretary

Mark S. LYON

Int. President 2026-2027

COCODAKAR 2026

45th Convention

COCODAKAR 2026

45th Convention

COCODAKAR 2026

45th Convention

Africa Forum 2026

Gaborone, Botswana

ELLI 2026

Lomé, Togo