Celebrating Dr. Tola Adenekan 40years of Scout leadership exploit (25th August 1984- 25th August 2024).
Mastering a vocation, profession and passion is a product of experience garnered over a period of time with attendant exposure recognition and personal satisfaction.
For Dr. Tola Adenekan, an Emeritus Youth Leader, Journalist, Development Consultant and Clergyman with a deep passion for Scouting and Scout leadership. It has been a journey of determination, integrity and grace in his 40 years journey as a Scout Leader of the World Organisation of Scout Movement (WOSM).
Young Tola Adenekan joined the Scout Movement at 1st Abeokuta troop in 1979 as a new student of Prestigious Abeokuta Grammar School, Idi-aba Abeokuta under Lt. Mr. Ganiu Shodeko (Banana) as his Scout leader but unfortunately for him and his colleagues their Scout leader, a senior student of the school passed out and the Troop was left with no leadership. Tola therefore took the courage to bring together his fellow scouts in the school and took up the responsibility of a troop leader. He'll attend the weekly training after school hours at the open troop created at St. Anne Primary Church premises, Ibara and used the knowledge gained there to teach his colleague at his school level. This he did for a period of three years.
Fascinated by his commitment to Scouting, the former District Commissioner of the Defunt Abeokuta Scout Local Association, Mr. S.O Ogundipe recommended him to his school Principal Lt. Mr. F.O Oridota for sponsorship to attend a week-long residential preliminary training course for Scout leaders being organised by the Ogun State Scout Council. The school Principal approved and release funds for Tola Adenekan to attend the course which ran from 17th-25th August 1984 at Obere, Ota in Ogun State.
Thus, beginning a new journey as a Certified Scout Leader in the Boy Scout of Nigeria, now The Scout Association of Nigeria.
Within the Scouting Career, Dr, Tola Adenekan attended various courses to build his capacity for quality Scouting knowledge in line with International standard. Some of the courses he attended include: A Nine -Day Woodbadge practical scout training course at Ikorodu 1988; A Five Day Assistant Leaders Trainers Course at Lagos State Model College Meiran, Lagos State in 1992; A Five- Day Basic Cub Scout Leaders in Abeokuta Ogun State in 1992; A five- Day Leader Trainer Course at Yaba College of Technology Yaba, Lagos State (1994); Seven- Day Woodbadge Practical Training for Cub Leaders at Lagos (1994).
Other Courses he attended are:
A Nine- Day Youth Camping/Citizenship and Leadership Training Course at Social Development Training Centre Organised by the Ogun State government 1986. African Region Training for Scout Trainers at Accra, Ghana,2004 & National Trainer Workshop in Lagos and Benin City 2005 &2007.
All these capacity building initiatives provided the needed skill and leverage for this Erudite Scouter to organize and support over 100 Scout Camping Program including Jamborette, Cubboree,Ramboree, Camporee as well as serving as instructor, course leader and course Director at Basic, Advance and Leader Trainer Courses across Nigeria.
He rose through the ranks and served in both permitted and warranted positions in the Scout Association of Nigeria.
He was granted a permit as a Scout Leader in 1984 and a warrant in 1987, Group Scout Leader, 1988, District Scout Leader 1990. He was warranted Assistant District Commissioner Training (1998) and was appointed and warranted District Scout Commissioner Ibara Local Association between 1989-2002 and received a letter of commendation as the most outstanding District Commissioner by the then State Commissioner, Dr. Onalapo Soneye, He was warranted Provincial Scout Commissioner, Egba Province, 2002 and served as State Training Commissioner, Ogun State between (2003-2007)
His outstanding contribution to Scouting Development got the attention of the National Scout Leadership and was appointed into the National Executive Committee to serve as National Headquarters Commissioner, Adult in Scouting and within one year of his appointment he organized a Three - Day Adult-in-Scouting workshops in three zones in Nigeria; Owerri, Imo State for South East, FCT, Abuja for North Central and Abeokuta Ogun-State for South West, after which he was elevated to serve as the first Assistant Chief Commissioner and Head of Department of Diversity inclusion and social impact , thereby combining two of the six strategic priorities of Scouting.
As the Assistant Chief Commissioner and Head of Department of DISI, he developed the course content for the training of Scout Leaders in Nigeria for diversity inclusion and social impact and organised the first 5- day DISI course at the Oba Akenzua International Scout Camp Benin City, Edo State in 2014 and same year represented the Scout Association of Nigeria at Accra Ghana.
He led the Nigeria Contigent to the West African Scout Conference and Youth Forum in Burkina Faso in 2015, and was a member of the Nigerian contigent to the 21st World Scout Jamboree at Yama Guchi Japan in 2015 as well as the 5th All African Scout Jamboree in Yamasoko Cote d' voir in 2016.
He served in various committees of the Scout Association of Nigeria as follows:
- Member, (Centenary) 100 years celebration of Scout Association of Nigeria
- Member, Nigerian Scouter Magazine Editorial Board for the resuscitation of Hard copy and online magazine for the NSO
- Member 7- man Global Support Assessment Tool (GSAT) Committee of The Scout Association of Nigeria
- Member, Peace & Reconciliation Committee of the Scout Association of Nigeria, (2017-2018), which mid-wifed a new leadership for the organisation and Chairman, Training Award, Harmonisation Committee in 2019.
As a distinguished Scouter of i International repute, Dr. Adenekan has continued to motivate young leaders within and outside the Association with the principle of integrity, patriotism, brotherliness and kindness to others.
While still holding tentaciously to the Scouting Leadership Ethics Dr. Adenekan has influenced millions of youths from other organisations and the larger society through his professional calling as a journalist and activities in the National Youth Council of Nigeria where he served as a two term Chairman of the Ogun state Chapter and National Public Relation officer. He also belong to many Cvil Society Organisations such as Center for Grassroots Education Health Care and Empowerment, Transparency and Accountability Network, Civil Society Coalition on Sustainable Development and Foundation for the Preservation of Yoruba Culture and Heritage among others.
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