The Scout Association of Nigeria (SAN) is the national
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement employing the Scout method, a program of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including camping, woodcraft, aquatics, hiking, backpacking ...
organization of
Nigeria. Scouting was founded in the
Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria
Colonial Nigeria was ruled by the British Empire from the mid-nineteenth century until 1960 when Nigeria achieved independence. British influence in the region began with the prohibition of slave trade to British subjects in 1807. Britain an ...
in 1915 and became a member of the
World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1961. SAN has about 750,210 members as of 2015.
History
Scouting was brought to Nigeria by
British Governor-General of
Nigeria, Lord
Frederick Lugard
Frederick John Dealtry Lugard, 1st Baron Lugard (22 January 1858 – 11 April 1945), known as Sir Frederick Lugard between 1901 and 1928, was a British soldier, mercenary, explorer of Africa and colonial administrator. He was Governor of Hong ...
on 21 November 1915, and Scout groups were created for the dependents of British citizens living in the British Protectorates. Shortly after, local boys were permitted to be Scouts.
Nigeria gained its
independence in 1960 and the Scout movement immediately grew as the Scouting program was heavily promoted. Shortly after independence, Dr.
Nnamdi Azikiwe
Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe, (16 November 1904 – 11 May 1996), usually referred to as "Zik", was a Nigerian statesman and political leader who served as the first President of Nigeria from 1963 to 1966. Considered a driving force behind the n ...
became the Chief Scout of Nigeria. In 1961, the Boy Scout Association of Nigeria was registered at the International Scout Bureau in
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada as a National Scout Organization.
General
Yakubu Gowon became the Chief Scout of Nigeria from 1966 to 1975.
C.C. Mojekwu served on the
World Scout Committee of the
World Organization of the Scout Movement from 1961 until 1969.
In 1979,
F.O. Ogunlana was awarded the ''
Bronze Wolf'', the only distinction of the
World Organization of the Scout Movement, awarded by the World Scout Committee for exceptional services to world Scouting.
Many Nigerian Scouts served internationally as a trainer or volunteer. Some won international
awards and also manage unit or groups in the UK and USA. BSA archive have:-
Gabriel Ofotokun-Goodwill: Nigeria and BSA in 1969 -85.
Soneye Philip: Nigeria, BSA and UK scouts trainer and commissioner in 2004 - Nigeria been the most populated African nation and most populous black nation, scouting is increasing on daily basis in Nigeria.
In 1999 at the
World Scout Conference
The World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM ) is the largest international Scouting organization. WOSM has 173 members. These members are recognized national Scout organizations, which collectively have around 43 million participants. WOSM ...
in
Durban, South Africa, Resolution 4/99 was adopted by the Conference on Gender Balance in Scouting, urging all National Scout Organizations to adopt gender balance programs. The Annual General Meeting of the Boy Scout Association of
Nigeria was held later that year, the NSO name was changed to the gender-neutral Scout Association of Nigeria.
Program
Activities
This organization is open to both boys and girls of all religions, although its members are mostly
Muslims and
Christians of various denominations.
Program emphasis is on
citizenship training and community service projects, services at national, state and community events, and providing first aid in case of disaster.
Fish farming is carried out in rural areas to improve diet.
There is a national community development project at
Igbo-Ora
Igbo-Ora is a city and the headquarters of Ibarapa Central, Oyo State, south-western Nigeria, situated north of Lagos. In 2006 the population of the town was approximately 72,207 people. In 2017 the population is estimated to be around 278,514 pe ...
, in
Oyo State, which includes
fish farming,
agriculture and a training center for Scouts from all over the country. Scouts have planted crops including maize, melons and pineapples, as well as learned about mortar/mesh
technology for the construction of low-cost housing. The project provides a training service to help local
farmers
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, raising living organisms for food or raw materials. The term usually applies to people who do some combination of raising field crops, orchards, vineyards, poultry, or other livestock. A farmer mi ...
learn new techniques.
Scouts sometimes organize social activities with
Girl Guides, and the leaders of the two organizations maintain contact with each other.
Sections
The association is divided in three sections according to age:
*
Cub Scouts - aged 6–12 years
*
Scouts - aged 12–19 years
*
Rovers - aged 19–24 years
Ideals
;
Scout Promise
On my honour I promise that I will do my best
to do my duty to God and my country Nigeria
to help other people at all times
and to obey the Scout Law.
;
Scout Law
# A Scout honour is to be trusted.
# A Scout is loyal to the president of Nigeria, his Scouters, his employers, and to those under him.
# A Scout duty is to be useful and to help others.
# A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout no matter to what country, gender, class or creed the other may belong.
# A Scout is kind, gentle and polite.
# A Scout is a friend to animals.
# A Scout obeys orders of his parents, Patrol Leader or Scout Leader without question.
# A Scout is cheerful under all difficulties.
# A Scout is
thrifty.
# A Scout is clean in thought, word and deed.
;
Scout Motto
Be Prepared.
Air and Sea Scouts
Some Scout Groups belong to separate
Air Scouts
Air Scouts are a part of the Scout movement with a particular emphasis on an aviation themed programme and/or flying-based activities. Air Scouts follow the same basic programme as other Scouts, but they devote certain amounts of time focused o ...
and
Sea Scouts branches. Both branches follow the core programme in all Sections but can add more
aeronautical
Aeronautics is the science or art involved with the study, design, and manufacturing of air flight–capable machines, and the techniques of operating aircraft and rockets within the atmosphere. The British Royal Aeronautical Society identifies ...
or nautical emphasis depending on the branch, with some Group branches choosing to be recognized by the
Nigerian Air Force or
Nigerian Navy.
Campsites
Across the country, there are
campsites owned by the Scout Association of Nigeria; usually they are owned and operated by a Scout District, Province, Division or State.
See also
*
The Nigerian Girl Guides Association
The Nigerian Girl Guides Association is the national Guiding organization of Nigeria. It serves 113,726 members (as of 2006). Founded in 1919, the girls-only organization became a full member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scout ...
*
William Thomas George Gates
William Thomas George Gates , (21 January 1908 – 23 November 1990) was a banker and expert on Africa.
Biography
Gates was educated at Ilford County High School and the University of London before working at the National Bank of New Zealand ...
References
*http://lawnigeria.com/LawsoftheFederation/BOY-SCOUTS-ACT.html
*http://nigeriascout.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-scout-association-of-nigeria_23.html
*https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxbLJ4bspu8BNk02UUVlY19EZEk/view
*https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxbLJ4bspu8BeUNJYVVSdkhMMDNYZXpFM0VSM1VITnN2YWlv/view
*https://www.scout.org/nigeria*
*https://www.scout.org/taxonomy/term/1628
*https://www.scout.org/user/36054
*https://www.scout.org/node/142781
*https://www.scout.org/sites/default/files/content_files/Nigeria%20Scout%20and%20WOSM%20Vision%202023.pdf
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boy Scouts Of Nigeria
World Organization of the Scout Movement member organizations
Scouting and Guiding in Nigeria
Youth organizations established in 1915