By – Aduwo Ayodele

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administration, Professor Peter O. Olapegba, on Thursday, June 13th, 2024, has been inaugurated as the President of the Oyo State Scout Association.

The new State President, Professor Peter Olapegba who had been a Scout since he was 10 years old, noted that his inauguration was a call to service and a rare opportunity to contribute his quota to the development of the Scout Movement, in Oyo State, in Nigeria and across the globe.

“The Scouts is a group of selfless individuals sacrificing their time, energy, potential, and resources to make the world a better place by building the character of young men and women in order to raise them to become functional members and leaders in the society” Professor Olapegba.

Speaking to his inaugural speech titled “Going back to the Basics: Strengthening the Foundation“, Professor Olapegba pledged to take scouting activities back to the primary and secondary schools, through reviving inanimate chapters, as well as creating the movement in schools that never had one.

Professor Olapegba promised to provide support for indigent pupils who would like to join, by providing Scout uniforms and other paraphernalia.

The Professor also plans to inaugurate chapters in tertiary institutions so that Scouts in secondary schools can continue scouting activities when they enter into tertiary institutions.

Rendering his charge at the inauguration ceremony, the University of Ibadan Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale, charged Nigerians to imbibe the Scout virtues of courage, self-reliance, endurance, teamwork, community service, and commitment to societal development to lift Nigeria to greater heights.

Professor Adebowale stressed that if the earlier mentioned virtues were “inherent in Nigerians, such vices like armed robbery, forgery, internet fraud, and other social ills would be eradicated”.

Assuring, the Vice Chancellor promised to give his support to ensure the success of Professor Olapegba’s tenure and the continued existence of the Scout Movement.

Explaining, the Oyo State Scout Commissioner, Reverend Moses Laniran noted that “scouting is a lifestyle, and a game played according to the rules”.

“The Scout Movement is a voluntary non-political, educational movement for young people , open to all without discrimination of origin, race, or creed” Reverend Laniran.

Scouting is a non-formal education that provides organized educational activities outside the established formal system that is intended to serve all and sundry to achieve learning objectives.

The State Commissioner explained further that “scouting is in stages – the Beavers (from the age of 4 years), the Cubs (from the age of 12 years), the Scouts (from the age of 16 years), the Venturers (from the age of 18 years), and the Explorers who are adults”.

Featured activities for the inauguration of the President included the launching of a commemorative necktie and the lighting of a traditional campfire.