While Nigeria’s leaders debate how to unite the country, thousands of young scouts are lacing up their boots, packing their gear, and heading to Abuja to prove unity is possible.
From August 15 to 21, the Federal Capital Territory will be transformed into a sea of uniforms, salutes, and campfires as the Scouts Association of Nigeria hosts its annual jamboree. With 3,500 participants drawn from all 36 states, this year’s theme — “Towards Peace and Unity” — isn’t just a slogan, it’s a mission.
Chief Commissioner Dr. Dave Paldopal Awuna says the gathering will do what politics often struggles to achieve: bring together Nigerians from every background to live, work, and dream side by side. “For over 100 years, scouting has built bridges where divisions exist. This jamboree is our way of showing the country what national cohesion really looks like,” he said at a press briefing in Abuja.
The event will feature the Scouts Parade and President’s Award (NISPPA), designed to break down religious, ethnic, and cultural barriers. Awuna also hinted the jamboree may soon become an annual tradition to keep the flame of unity burning.
But behind the smiles and camp chants lies a plea for recognition. Awuna laments that unlike in Kenya, where scouting enjoys strong government support, Nigerian scouts have been left largely on their own. Still, with limited resources, they’ve partnered with agencies like NAPTIP to fight drug abuse, child trafficking, and other social ills.
“No nation can grow without scouting,” Awuna insists, calling on the government to work with scouts to steer young people away from vices such as drug abuse, internet fraud, and armed robbery.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu were praised for their past contributions to scouting — from building camps in Lagos to championing girls’ guides.
For one week in August, Abuja won’t just be Nigeria’s capital — it will be a living classroom of discipline, teamwork, and unity, led not by politicians, but by the next generation.