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.
Senator 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 office of President of the Senate at the National Assembly in Abuja at the weekend.
The Scout Association of Nigeria had on Thursday paid a courtesy visit on Akpabio, being one of their own, to brief him on the forthcoming Nigeria Scout Parade and President’s Award event coming up in Abuja from May 17-21, 2024.
In his opening remarks, the Chief Commissioner of Scout of Nigeria, Dave Padopads-Awunah expressed their joy over the elevation Senator Akpabio to the position of President of the Senate of Nigeria, stating that the quality of Senator Akpabio as a young Scout has propelled him to excel in his tasks as one of the best governors Nigeria has ever seen and now his strides in his short stay as President of the Senate.
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 of Akwa Ibom State.
In his response, the senate president expressed his joy at the visit and recalled with nolstagia, his period as a young scout. He highlighted the tenets of scouting, which he said help in moulding the character of persons who grow in good citizens of their country.
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
A statement by the Special Assistant to the President of the Senate, Anietie Ekong, quoted Senator Akpabio as advising the Association on the need for discipline, continuous education on issues like climate change and artificial intelligence.
According to Senator Akpabio, “I don’t know at what stage that Nigeria stopped having organizations like yours in primary and secondary schools. In my time, we had Scout Movements in primary and secondary schools. We even use 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.
Senator Akpabio extolled the Scouts Movement as a disciplined organization 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.
Mr. Awunah who led the delegation intimated the Senate President on the forth-coming Nigeria Scout Parade and President’s Medal Awards, sought the collaboration of the National Assembly in executing their programmes that would be of immense benefit to Nigerian youths.
The deputy senate president and other leaders of the Senate were present at the event where the President of the Senate was decorated by the Chief Commissioner alongside his colleagues.
