The Boy Scouts of Nigeria (BSN) is the national Scouting

Scouting

Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....

 organization of Nigeria

Nigeria

Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...

. Scouting was founded in the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria

History of Nigeria

-Early history:Archaeological research, pioneered by Thurstan Shaw and Steve Daniels, has shown that people were already living in southwestern Nigeria as early as 9000 BC and perhaps earlier at Ugwuelle-Uturu in southeastern Nigeria, where microliths were used...

 in 1915 and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement

World Organization of the Scout Movement

The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...

 in 1961. BSN has 46,701 members as of 2004.

History

Scouting was brought to Nigeria by the British, and Scout groups were created for the dependents of British citizens living in the country. 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.

C.C. Mojekwu served on the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement

World Organization of the Scout Movement

The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...

 from 1961 until 1969.

In 1979, F.O. Ogunlana was awarded the Bronze Wolf

Bronze Wolf

The Bronze Wolf Award is bestowed by the World Scout Committee to acknowledge "outstanding service by an individual to the World Scout Movement"...

, the only distinction of the World Organization of the Scout Movement

World Organization of the Scout Movement

The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...

, awarded by the World Scout Committee for exceptional services to world Scouting.

Activities

This organization is open to boys 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

Fish farming

Fish farming is the principal form of aquaculture, while other methods may fall under mariculture. Fish farming involves raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures, usually for food. A facility that releases young fish into the wild for recreational fishing or to supplement a species'...

 is carried out in rural areas to improve diet.

There is a national community development project at Igbo-Ora

Igbo-Ora

Igbo-Ora is a town in Oyo State, south-western Nigeria, situated north of Lagos. As of 2001, the population of the town was approximately 60,000 people...

, in Oyo State

Oyo State

Ọyọ State is an inland state in south-western Nigeria, with its capital at Ibadan. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east by Osun State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west partly by Ogun State and partly by the Republic of Benin....

, 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 learn new techniques.

Scouts sometimes organize social activities with Girl Guides

The Nigerian Girl Guides Association

The Nigerian Girl Guides Association is the national Guiding organization of Nigeria. It serves 113,726 members . Founded in 1919, the girls-only organization became a full member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1966....

, and the leaders of the two organizations maintain contact with each other.

Sections

The association is divided in three sections according to age:

• Cub Scout
  Cub Scout
  A Cub Scout is a member of the section of the worldwide Scouting movement for young persons, mainly boys normally aged about 7 to 11. In some countries they are known by their original name of Wolf Cubs and are often referred to simply as Cubs. The movement is often referred to simply as Cubbing...
  
  s - aged 7–12 years
• Scouts
  Boy Scout
  A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
  
   - aged 12–19 years
• Rovers - aged 19–24 years

Ideals

Scout Promise

Scout Promise

Since the publication of Scouting for Boys in 1908, all Scouts and Guides around the world have taken a Scout promise or oath to live up to ideals of the movement, and subscribed to a Scout Law. The wording of the Scout Promise and Scout Law have varied slightly over time and from country to...

On my honour I promise that I will do my best

to do my duty to God and my country

to help other people at all times

and to obey the Scout Law.

Scout Law

Scout Law

Since the publication of Scouting for Boys in 1908, all Scouts and Guides around the world have taken a Scout Promise or oath to live up to ideals of the movement, and subscribed to a Scout Law...

1. A Scout's honour is to be trusted.
2. A Scout is loyal to his country, his Scouter, his parents, his employers and to those under him.
3. A Scout's duty is to be useful and to help others.
4. A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout no matter to what country, class or creed he may belong.
5. A Scout is kind, gentle and polite.
6. A Scout is a friend to animals.
7. A Scout obeys orders from his parents, Patrol Leader or Scout Master without question.
8. A Scout is cheerful under all difficulties.
9. A Scout is thrifty.
10. A Scout is clean in thought, word and deed.

Scout Motto
Be Prepared.