BRACE UP FOR INNOVATIVE YOUTH PROGRAM EXPERIENCE FOR ENHANCED SEASCOUTING- RAJI TO SEASCOUT LEADERS

URGES NEW TSAN LEADERSHIP TO SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REVISED NATIONAL SEASCOUT CURRICULUM

POOR IMPLEMENTATION OF CABAOTAGE POLICY CONTRIBUTED TO UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY- RAJI

A former national headquarters Commissioner for Seascouts in the Scout Association of Nigeria, Raji Bomodeoku has tasked seascout leaders to brace up for the future and create innovative youth program experience for young people in the section that addresses modern challenges.

Raji gave this charge while delivering a session on ship management at a two day retreat for seascout Leaders in Lagos.

The retreat was organized by the seascout section of the Lagos State Scout Council to provide opportunities for leaders in the section to acquire relevant knowledge and skills required for handling a seascout ship(unit), whilst responding to the changing pattern of young people needs in the section. The retreat brought several stakeholders in the seascout section together at the State Scout headquarters in Ogudu between 11th and 12th October.

Speaking on the session objectives, Raji added that the discussions were centered on providing participants with the relevant knowledge and skills needed to provide better educational experience to young people in the ship (unit).

He described the nature of a ship, while outlining parameters such as design, purpose and size as indicators for classifying a ship. He noted that ships are large sea going vessels. He cited examples of ship as container ship within which over 60% of global trade is carried, bulk carriers, ro-ro, tanker, trawlers and naval ship are other types of ships sampled during the session.

Raji contends that a seascout ship is similar to the pack, troop,crew or squadron in other sections. He added that while a ship(unit) may acquire a boat to symbolize its own ship, the ship is the administrative division of seascouting at different levels. He was qouted to have said in context, a state council is a ship and a local unit is also regarded as a ship.

He identified innovative youth program, adult support and Scout method as essential components of a successful ship meeting.

Raji analyzed a prototype ship program showing ways to collect data for planning learning experience for young people in the ship.

He continued,charging leaders to brace up for 21st century challenge created by technology and globalization and provide transformative learning experiences for young people in the seascout section.

While responding to questions from participants at the retreat, Raji advocated for the implementation of the National Seascout Curriculum, 2016 and its 2022 edition to reposition the section in the country to increase market share and seascout led impacts in the community. He appealed to the New TSAN leadership to implement the National Seascout Curriculum which was developed during his time as head of seascouting in Nigeria.

While responding to the questions on lack of employment opportunities for career seafarers among the sea-scouts,

Raji, an Associate of the Certified Institute of Shipping of Nigeria noted that the country had about 22.5 billion cubic metric ton of petroleum besides other hydrocarbon derivatives on her 870 coastline and about 3000km inland waters. The significant impacts these natural endowments would add to the earnings of Nigeria in the international market is directly proportional to the seafaring activities in the maritime industry where the unemployed Seafarers of which some are sea scouts members are supposed to fit in. The former Sea scout Chief noted that the oil and gas industry as the leading sector in Nigeria coastwise trade is made of approximately 95 per cent of coastal and inland shipping, while freighters, fishing trawlers, chandlers, chatterers and other carriers are made of the remaining five per cent which signify a massive business opportunities for the shipping industry as well as creating a lot of employment opportunities for unemployed Seafarers and the Nigerian youths which in a way will reduce the rates of un- employment and poverty, by so doing, it would encourage Nigeria in the achievement of the AFCFTA, UNCTAD &SDG NCTAD.

He stated that the attainment of a robust oil industry is proportional to the maritime activities on the Nation’s coastline. Raji further stated that almost Fifty Thousand (50,000) Americans in thirty three (33) States are directly employed in building, repairing, and maintaining the Jones Act’s fleets. He noted that Africa has demonstrated the slowest progress in developing its maritime potentials despite equal trade convention like UNCTAD that encourages global trade development.

He attributed lack of employment opportunities in the maritime industry to the poor implementation of CABOTAGE policy which was designed to increase local players participation in Nigeria shipping industry. Raji added that lack of indigenous capacities and exotic competition from foreign players in the maritime industry has exacerbated the unemployment situation in the maritime industry.

Raji concluded by thanking the seascout section of the Lagos State Scout Council led by the State Headquarters Commissioner for sea-scouts, Monday Monye for organizing the event which he described as a stich in time in view of the changing global scouting priorities following the 43rd World Scout Conference in, Cairo, Egypt 2024.

He tasked sea scout leaders to prioritize mental,physical, social and recreational experience for young people and end emphasis on para military indoctrination in sea scouting.

COMMUNICATION TEAM

2024 SEA SCOUT RETREAT