BATTALION SECRETARY REPORT PRESENTED AT THE 2025 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD AT WESLEY CHAPEL LEKKI ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2025

PREAMBLE

HYMN 313 of the precious English Methodist Hymn Book says that “To God be the glory, great things he hath done”. We are very grateful to God for all the wondrous things He has been doing in our midst as one big army advancing Christ’s kingdom in Lagos South Battalion despite all situations around. This has made up to raise our voice and sing from EMHB 503 that;

“GOD moves in a mysterious way,

His wonders to perform;

He plants His footsteps in the sea,

And rides upon the storm”

We say;

“Blind unbelief is sure to err,

And scan His work in vain;

God is His own interpreter,

And He will make it plain.”

THE JOURNEY SO FAR

The erstwhile tenure of the executives of the Battalion Council kicked off through an election on the 4th day of December 2021 and invested on Sunday, 11th December, 2022 at Anglican Church on the Peninsula (ANCOPEN), Royal Gardens Estate, Ajah. The tenure executives are;

• ‘Ladi Bamigbele ANTO – Chairman
• Sylvanus Jankaro – Vice Chairman
• Taiwo Obasan – Secretary
• Simon Ephraim Alari – Assistant Secretary
• Johnson Oko Anaga ANTO – Training Convener
• Musa Mutah – Treasurer
• David Jireh – Financial Secretary
• Dolapo Adeshina – Internal Auditor
• Benjamin Yohanna – Public Relations Officer

The following were appointed by the Battalion Executive Committee and ratified by the general Battalion Officers meeting held January 2022:

• Mackristopher Ejikeme as the Welfare/Visiting Officer (Sangotedo – Okegun Zone) 
• Moses Ukelina as the Welfare/Visiting Officer (Lekki Phase I – Ajah/Abraham Adesanya Zone ) / Band Master II
• Samuel Daniel Bala as the Welfare/Visiting Officer (Obalende – VI Zone) 
• Folorunsho Odusanya as the Music Director/ Band Coordinator
• Ayodele Ajayi to replace the PRO due to his relocation

PROGRAMMES SO FAR

1. Battalion Rededication Service: The Lagos South Battalion Rededication Service was held regularly at the EYN Church of the Brethren, Lekki on March 19, 2022, and March 18, 2023, and The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Peace Assembly, Victoria Island on January 15, 2025, respectively.
2. Annual Battalion Prayer & Fasting: The annual Battalion Prayer & Fasting was well attended and done in Jan 2022, Jan 2023, Jan 24-26, 2024 and January 13, 2025, respectively.
3. Registration and Inauguration of New Companies: Despite the removal of numbers and deregistration of companies, to the glory of God, the State Council registered and inaugurated 6 new companies, making the battalion one of the largest in the State Council with 31 “registered” companies. We look forward to great improvement in the coming months as 12 other prospective companies prepare to register with the State Council. It is our prayer that the Lord continue to expand its fold.
4. Enrolment Service: Within the last year, we had a total of 8 enrolment services, including the installation of new captains and enrolment of over 200 boys across these companies. We congratulate the newly installed captains.
5. Revival of Non-Functional Companies: During the year, a team of officers led by the Welfare/Visiting Officers visited all companies, especially non-functional (deregistered) companies, and to the glory of God, the team was able to make connections with 6 companies with good progress on 5, which we expect to conduct their enrolment service in the year 2024.
6. BB Week: All companies celebrated BB Week, and the collections were remitted to the state as obligated.
7. NCO & Officers’ Training: The Battalion Council hosted two (2) annual NCO training courses since the beginning of the tenure, with a cumulative of about 200 boys trained in the basic and advanced classes. Officers participated fully in all State Officers Training Courses, Brigade School and STO courses. We appreciate the trainers for their constant representation at the Training & Extension Committee of the State Council.
8. State Council Activities: The Battalion Council was ably represented at all State Executive Council meetings, Annual General Meetings, State & National Investiture and all other Statutory Meetings & events.
9. Battalion Officers’ Meeting: The officers’ meeting is held every first Sunday of the month. To the glory of God, meetings have been held regularly and hosted by different companies. We bless God for the increase in attendance and the commitment shown ever since. We want to implore all officers to kindly participate in meetings.
10. Battalion AGM: The Battalion held its annual AGM which was well attended by Officers and Boys of the council annually and as statutory.
11. Annual Battalion Chaplain, Patrons/Patronesses & Captains Retreat: The retreat for Chaplains, Captains, Officers, NCOs, Patrons/Patronesses, and Honourary Officers/Advisers has been held at the All Souls Anglican Church, Lekki Phase I, Lagos on December 10, 2022 with keynote speakers on the central theme: “Relevance of the Boys’ Brigade methods in building the 21st-century boy-child”
12. Annual Founders Day: This was celebrated and well attended by all boys, chaplains, captains and officers of the battalion council.
13. State Competitions: The Battalion Council participated in the Football and Bible Quiz Competitions hosted by the State Council.
14. Battalion Monthly Band Training Rehearsals: The council instituted monthly band training rehearsals to train and unify the music within the Battalion and equipped the Boys with advanced music skills and theories.
15. Hygiene & Etiquette Seminar for boys: This was held at Wesley Chapel Lekki on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
16. Cooking Class for boys: This was held at Wesley Chapel Lekki on Saturday, April 27, 2024.
17. Entrepreneurship and Career Seminar for Officers and Boys: This was held at Wesley Chapel Lekki on Saturday, June 22, 2024
18. Battalion Bye-Laws: To ensure smooth running of the Battalion council and a lasting structure, a bye-law was drawn up and has been reviewed effectively by the Captains, Officers and the state council. The bye-law will be presented for ratification and to be gazetted at the 2025 AGM.
19. Hosting of the State AGM in 2021 and 2024; The Battalion council successfully hosted the State AGM and Elections in 2021 at All Souls Anglican Church, Lekki and in 2024 at Anglican Church of Redemption, 1004 Estate, Victoria Island where elections were duly conducted and a change of baton for the State Executive Council occurred.
20. Hosting of the State Investiture: During the year, our Battalion was the venue for the investiture of the State Executive Office Bearers. The venue of the pre-investiture camp of the Boys Brigade Nigeria, Lagos State Council, which was held successfully between 18th and 20th October 2024, was Anglican Church on the Peninsula. Over 150 Boys and officers attended the camp before the investiture proper of our new state president, Elder Urum Kalu Eke MFR, and other State Office bearers was held at the Presbyterian Church Ikota near VGC on Sunday 20^th October 2024. A Communion Service was held for all the participants on Saturday morning, 19^th October 2024 by 8 a.m. before full rehearsals commenced.
21. Hosting of the African Methodist Conference: The Battalion Council hosted the Heads of Conference Summit, and the African Methodist Women Conference was held from 30 May to 2 June 2024 at the Wesley Chapel, Lekki Lagos, Nigeria, Africa Methodist Council 2024. The Battalion participated fully in the opening ceremony and the inaugural ceremony that had former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the President of Girls Brigade Ghana, and other top dignitaries.
22. Launch of the Battalion Website: The website of the Battalion Council has been launched for use by the public. The link is https://boysbrigadelagossouth.wordpress.com/

CHALLENGES

Though the Lord has been helping us to travail over many challenges, some are still being worked out by Him. The challenges we are encountering for now are:

1. Battalion Dues: During the past year, only a handful of companies paid their Battalion dues. We want to implore all companies to kindly pay their dues to the battalion.
2. Attendance at Meetings & Battalion Activities: We use this medium to plead with everyone to encourage their officers and boys to attend Battalion Officers’ Meetings and other activities as recent attendance has been below expectations.
3. Non-functional Companies: As the Lord continues to uplift his work through the Secretariat and Welfare/Visiting Officers in visiting companies, we want to directly plead with the captains and officers of these companies to rise to the occasion by resuscitating the work of God in their respective companies.
4. Lack of proper handover by the previous tenure: The previous tenure left abruptly and we have not been able to complete the change in Battalion bank accounts and other assets. The Battalion has been running on personal contributions and donations by worthy officers and churches.

CONCLUSION

We have not forgotten our vision to revive the heritage of our founding fathers, Sir William A. Smith, and for that reason, we would want all hands on deck at these times as we’re increasing numerically, which would bring about more demands.

We appreciate the goodness of God in our lives, especially in the lives of every member. We are grateful for His love and wonders and the good works and fruitfulness that are evident in our lives.

We also trust God for the success of this tenure.

With Sure & Steadfast,

Taiwo Obasan

Battalion Secretary