BENIN CITY – The Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice Cromwell Idahosa has called on youths to embrace scouting, instead of engaging in cult related activities.
He said scouting guarantees better future for youths by teaching them how to be industrious, self-reliant and useful to themselves, their parents and communities and engaging them in outdoor programmes so as to make them physically strong and smart; loyal and patriotic; mentally and spiritually alert.
Justice Idahosa was speaking at the 2015 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the State Scout Council held weekend at the Oba Akenzua II International Scout Camp, Iyeke’Ogba, Benin City.
The Edo Chief Judge who is also the President of the State Scout Council said scouting is the foremost youth voluntary organisation in the world, with Edo State been designated as the pace-setter state in scouting on the African continent by the World Scout Bureau.
“A mere look around you and at this sprawling camp will convince anyone of the huge progress we have made in establishing this vast youth development facility.
“I am happy to announce to those who do not know that this camp won the prestigious Commonwealth Youth Service Award in 1991 as the best Youth Camp in the entire Commonwealth.
“This is a feat not yet equaled by any country,” the CJ said.
He commended the adult scout volunteers for giving up their time, talent and treasure to see to the proper moral up-bringing of other people’s children.
The CJ also commended the Edo State government for the support to the Scout Council and expressed optimism that the support would be sustained.
The Edo State Scout Commissioner, Mr. James H.I. Osifo said the Scout Movement, which is now 100 years old in Nigeria, consist of over 20 million persons in 130 countries and territories and is the largest movement in the world dedicated to the right upbringing of boys and girls.
He said that under the eagle eyes of dedicated adult leaders, scouting inculcates discipline, morality and clean living in the scouters.
“Our leader and founder, Lord Robert Baden Powell recognized the importance of hard work and perseverance in relation to pure intellectual and physical gifts.
“He saw the social importance of the constructive and enjoyable use of leisure; he realised that social, economic, political and international difference could be minimized if young people from diverse background learned to know each other through common tasks or experiences,” Mr. Osifo said.
The Scout Commissioner said he intends to work with his team by taking scouting back to schools and partners with the Ministry of Education in a bid to achieving the objective.
He appealed to the state governor to support the scout movement in completing their five-flat housing estate under construction at Etete.
Also speaking, Chief Commissioner of the Scout Association of Nigeria – Olori Omo-Oba Olusoga Sofolahan said  the greatest strategy to youth development is by engaging them.