Fund Scouts To End Criminality, Youths Restiveness, FG Urged

The Scout Association of Nigeria (TSAN) has called on the federal government to effectively fund the outfit to ensure an end to criminality, youth mismanagement, cultism, terrorism, and other negative vices in the country.

Joseph Ihemedu, member, Africa Scout Committee made the call Monday in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the sidelines of the Nigeria Scout Parade and President Awards (NISPPA-2023).

Ihemedu blamed criminality, terrorism, drug abuse, trafficking of persons, and prostitution on the clear absence of the role of scouting in tailoring the minds of young people towards the right paths in life.

“Before the Nigeria civil world and soon after that Scouts played a lot of role in Nigeria, in modeling the character of the young ones both in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. Scouting is an informal education system and methodology to raise the young ones to better citizens in their characters. So, the absence of government recognition and perhaps making it part of the curriculum of their formal educational system is a major challenge to scouting.

“And again the attitude of citizens is also a challenge towards scouting. Some people still express the excitement, some also express the surprise that scouting still exists. Scouting should exist strongly in every institutions of learner, be it primary, secondary or tertiary institutions, because it is scouting and the activities of scouting that can take away the young ones from the societal vices of drugs abuse, robberies, kidnapping, prostitution and the rest of them,” he said.

Abiso Kabir, State Scout Commissioner (SSC), Borno State said the programme won’t be one-off as it is aimed at uniting scouts across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

“This is the first time we are uniting all over the 36 states and the FCT to meet and parade together. The programme won’t be one-off. It is going to be held annually. We are hoping to improve on this. Scouting activities would be a live and continuous programme for next year and coming generation,” he said.