THE RETURN OF SCOUTING ACTIVITIES TO NIGERIA NSO – CELEBRATING ONE HUNDRED AND TEN YEARS OF SCOUTING IN NIGERIA – SCOUTCAMP2026 (SC26)

It was scheduled for 8th to 11th April 2026, and it didn’t miss a date to become a reality.

What started as a Mission Impossible became a POSSIBILITY the moment the Network was put in place courtesy of The Documentary Facilities provided by Dr Philip Soneye.

The success of the One Hundred and Ten years celebration of Scouting in Nigeria tagged SC26 was as a result of dogged determination to see Scouting activities commence in the NSO following more than seven (7) years inactivity of Scouting resulting from the inefficiency of the last leadership and the inability to articulate scouting programs to keep the Nigerian Scouts busy, coupled with the leadership tussle and division among the adult leaders that seriously affected scouting in Nigeria.

The leadership of Umar Muhammad kept pushing and setting up Committees to organise activities for Scouts across the nation.

While some of these were effected in some states like the TREE planting to celebrate the 110 years, attempts at bringing Scouts together for the National Camp kept suffering defeat and postponement until the last involvement of The Lagos State Scout Commissioner, Alh. Yemi Adebesin that laid the groundwork for the implementation of the Camp.

There are numerous names that space will not permit to list that were instrumental to the success but some few cannot be omitted like,

Princess Nikky Onyeri the Chair Planning Committee while The State Scout Commissioner of Lagos Alh Yemi Adebesin was the Co-Chair, Dr Philip Soneye The International Commissioner provided the Coordinating Database Technology that saw to the Documentary processes, Kenneth Geoffrey was the Coordinator for Diaspora Scouts, another great motivator was Chief Sola Atanda – The State Scout Commissioner of Osun State, all The Assistant Chief Commissioners that never gave up in organising the State Scout Commissioners to rally the Scouts at the grassroot level.

The Communication Department headed by Dr Chukwujekwu Ibe and his Team that kept the free flow of directives alive to make the registration easy.

The Federal Capital Territory State Scout Commissioner, Rev Fr Christopher Nnubia played a pivotal role in securing the Venue not minding frustrations instigated by those who wanted the National Scout Camp dead, those that even got to National News outlet to discourage participation of Scouts in the Scout Camp. All their disclaimers amounted to wasted efforts as Scouts in Nigeria were already tired of idleness and non scouting activities.

As days started getting near, information from the Documentary Center showed that a large number of scouts from about 22 states have already registered for the Camp.

What made the exercise meaningful was the very low cost of registration and no other financial stress on the participants.

Still on the path of realisation, well spirited Nigerians started making donations to support the Camp.

Reputable Ministries particularly the Minister of Women Affairs & Social Development, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim fsi, took it up to see the sources as efforts were on Gender equality and it really happened.

Then come the opening day, 8th April saw Scouts start arriving the venue with Delta State being the first to arrive. By night fall, State contingents have almost arrived. The Northern States took advantage of the centrality of Abuja to field participants – Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Niger, Kano, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Taraba, Yobe, FCT, Borno, Sokoto States were there.

From the records of attendance in AGM, 21 States were in attendance for the Annual General Meeting while participants were from 23 States including Ghana.

The Opening Ceremony

The Hon Minister of Women Affairs & Social Development, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim fsi was physically present at the opening ceremony.

The Commissioner of Police FCT CP Dantawaye Miller psc sent a Superintendent of Police to represent him due to his official engagement.

The Deputy Governor of Osun State, Prince Kola Adewusi, was equally represented with a message of goodwill from the State Government.

Attendance was overwhelming as Scouts (mostly young Scouts) with over 200 members were in camp.

Various scouting activities and games featured as well as some training sessions.

The road walk within the FCT area made Abuja stand still at seeing such numerical strength of Scouts and Cubs in a National Camp, something that has never happened since more than 40 years after such a gathering happened in Jos Plateau State.

Display of cultural diversities in wears and dances were part of the entertainment event. The youths engaged in room games and activities.

Scout educational activities took place, and presentation of Assistant Leader Trainer and Leader Trainer Certificates to deserving trainers particularly those that have done the program were issued as the event provided the opportunity of such decorative ceremonies.

REACTIONS FROM PARTICIPANTS

In the words of Tunji – a 10 year Cub, The Camp was my first time of staying out of my parent’s home and I enjoyed every minute I spent here.

Another new Scout – Chinwe, from Imo State who was invited by one of the organisers:

The most thrilling part of the Camp was the Diversity witnessed during the Camp Fire night – the troupe from Niger State featured so thrilling that their performance though military like was all in their native language, the troupe was the FCT featured a mixture of Yoruba, Igbo,Hausa, Efik and Idoma reflecting the Centre of Unity of Abuja. Overall I’ll after here join scouting once I get to my State. Special thanks to Rev Fr Christopher Nnubia for mentorship.

Another participant from Gombe – Yusuf, kept recounting the impact he got from mixing with scouts from Lagos State who showed much understanding in what scouting is all about.

One name kept recurring among those that were sampled and that name is WATERBOY, asked why WATERBOY was their key name, some stated that his agility was next to that of a monkey. Very quick in manipulation.

Yes.

This is exactly what the Camp was meant to achieve and it did achieve it.

OBSERVATIONS FOR MODIFICATIONS

110 official logo of the camp celebration

There seemed to be not enough planning as to the content of what should feature in the Camp. Whatever the cause, future camps need planned well ahead of time, at least one year before Camp so that participants have enough time to gather what to come to camp with.

The Communication Team put up very nice job but there doesn’t seem to be that central point of editing what needs to be fed the public, that way there will be reduced to the barest minimum the embarrassment of conflicting reporting and statistics. But in all one, not minding the hasty putting together of the Team they tried their best and deserve a PAT on the back.

Officers that planned the Camp included

1. Princess Nikky Onyeri – Chairperson

2. Alh. Adebesin – Co-chair

3. Dr. Chukwujekwu Ibe – Secretary/Director of Programme

4. Comrd Billy O’notue – Asst. Secretary/Camp Co-ordinator

5. Umar Mohammad – Camp Chief/Chief Commissioner

6. Apostle Adetola Adenekan – Deputy Camp Chief

6. Rev. Fr. Chris Nnubia – Chief Host/SSC FCT/Interfaith Service Coordinator

7. Alh. Mukhtar Bushasha – SSC Zamfara/Interfaith Service Coordinator

8. Chief Obinna Ibole – NHQC Communication

9. Michael Olawale – Media Publicity Officer

10. Aminu Salisu Mahdi – Planning Committee Member

11. Chris Mbakwe – Youth Coordinator

12. Amb. Nath Uwem – LOC Member/External Affairs Coordinator.

13. Comrade. Idowu Esan – Program Designer

14. Alh. Abdulazeez Saka – Education Coordinator

15. Chief Sola Atanda – SSC Osun State

16. Dr. Philip Soneye – International Commissioner.

And all Assistant Chief Commissioners particularly the Zonal and Departmental Assistant Chief Commissioners

And lastly:

The National Scout Camp to celebrate the 110 years of Scouting in Nigeria has come and is now History.

Special thanks to the Chief Commissioner, Umar Mohammad, for believing in the Planning Team.

Special thanks to all that contributed in one way or the other to make it happen.

May God reward us all.

COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT