HISTORY OF SCOUTING AND HOW SCOUTING WAS ESTABLISH IN NIGERIA

Scouting was brought to Nigeria In The Year “1915” November “21” by British Governor-General of Nigeria, Lord Frederick Lugard 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 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 – 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 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.