Akpabio Charges Scout Association of Nigeria on Ethics, Civic Education

George Okoh

The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has urged the Scout Movement of Nigeria to inculcate in Nigerian youths virtues of national ethics and the need to be prepared for any eventuality in life all the time.

 Akpabio gave the charge when the Chief Commissioner of The Scout Association of Nigeria, Dave Padopads-Awunah led other executive members of the Association on a courtesy visit to the President of the Senate at the National Assembly yesterday.

In his opening remarks, Padopads-Awunah expressed joy over the elevation Akpabio to the position of President of the Senate of Nigeria, stating that the quality of Akpabio as a young scout had propelled him to excel in his tasks as one of the best governors Nigeria has ever seen.

Padopads-Awunah further recalled the role the senate president played by paying for scouts and ensuring Nigeria Scouts were represented at the world scout jamboree in Japan during his period as governor.

In his response, the senate president expressed his joy at the visit and recalled with nostalgia, his period as a young scout. He highlighted the tenets of scouting.

He stated his commitment to amend the Boy Scout Act of Nigeria and also assist the association in delivering on their core mission to the young people of Nigeria

 Akpabio advised the association on the need for discipline, continuous education on issues like climate change and artificial intelligence.

“I don’t know at what stage that Nigeria stopped having organisations like yours in primary and secondary schools. In my time, we had scout movements in primary and secondary schools. We even used to have the female counterpart, The Girls’ Guide.

“These movements inculcated right ethics and ethos on the young ones, getting them to know their country, the national pledge, national anthem and respect for national symbols like the national flags and currency.

“The scout movement should prepare the youths for leadership in all spheres of life and that is why the motto of the Scouts, ‘Be Prepared’ appeals to me. You should be prepared for situations that are favourable, be prepared for the rainy season and dry season; be prepared for the season of bountiful harvest and even famine,” he said.

 Akpabio extolled the scouts movement as a disciplined organisation which should be encouraged through training and retraining on contemporary issues like climate change and artificial intelligence and pledged the support of the National Assembly in their programmes.