National Association of Seadogs
| National Association of Seadogs | |
|---|---|
| NAS | |
 | |
| Founded | October 1952 University College, Ibadan |
| Type | Confraternity |
| Affiliation | Independent |
| Status | Active |
| Scope | International |
| Motto | "Against all moribund conventions" |
| Colors | White, Red, and Black |
| Symbol | Skull & Cross Bones |
| Members | 25,000+ lifetime |
| Nickname | Seadogs, Saylors |
| Headquarters | Plot 55, Gado Nasko Road Kubwa, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory Nigeria |
| Website | www |
The National Association of Seadogs, popularly known as the Pyrates Confraternity, is a confraternity organization in Nigeria that is nominally University-based.[1] The group was founded by Professor Wole Soyinka and six students in 1952 to support human rights and social justice in Nigeria.[1]
History
[edit]Due to the increase of tribalism among social life of students and the increasing population of "wealthy" students to a relatively few "poorer" students in the University College, Ibadan, the National Association of Seadogs was formed as a body in order to combat these societal ills.[2] It was founded in 1952 by seven friends who adopted the name "Magnificent 7".[3] The Magnificent 7 are:[3]
- Ikpehare Aig-Imoukhuede
- Olumuyiwa Awe
- Sylvanus U. Egbuche
- Pius Oleghe
- Nathaniel Oyelola
- Ralph Opara
- Wole Soyinka
The Pyrates Confraternity went on to become the only confraternity on Nigerian campuses for almost twenty years.[4] Membership into the confraternity was open to students who were bright academically regardless of their tribe or religion.[5] To date, over 25,000 people have belonged to the organization at various stages.[6]
The Pyrates Confraternity was registered with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs under the Land (Perpetual Succession) Act Cap 98 with the name "The National Association of Seadogs".[7] Its headquarters are at Plot 55, Gado Nasko Road in Kubwa, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria.[8]
Symbols
[edit]The Pyrates logo is the Skull and Bones in red, black, and yellow.[9] Members are known as Seadogs and Saylors.[10] Its motto is "Against all moribund conventions". The organization has several sayings used as a sign of respect or greeting, including "Odas is Odas" ("Orders is Orders"), "No Friend No Foe", and "Absolutely No Lagging".[10][9] Members are known as Seadogs and Saylors.[10]
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Chapters
[edit]Pyrates has branches throughout Nigeria and in Australia, Canada, Japan, Netherlands, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.[7][11]
Notable members
[edit]- Wole Soyinka, awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature[12]
Controversies and member misconduct
[edit]Some sinister confraternities have been formed to copy the Pyrates confraternity which led the Pyrates confraternity to dissociate itself from these organizations and also operate outside university campuses.[13] The confraternity is also seen as a "political opponent" after several members in Port Harcourt were detained in jail for participating in the disruption of election campaigns in 1997.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Bestman Wellington (July 6, 2007). "Nigeria's Cults and their Role in the Niger Delta Insurgency". Jamestown. 5 (13). The JamesTown Foundation. Retrieved 16 February 2016.
- ^ A.A., Owoseni (2006). A Book of Readings on Cultism and Its Attendant Effects on Nigerian Institutions of Higher Learning. Frola Publishers. ISBN 9789780710552. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ^ a b R.O. Rom, Kalilu (1995). Cultism on the Nigerian campus. SOF & Co. ISBN 9789783273627. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ^ Biko Agozino; Unyierie Idem (2001). Nigeria: democratising a militarised civil society. Centre for Democracy and Development. ISBN 9781902296104.
- ^ O. A. Ogunbameru (1997). Readings on campus secret cults. Kuntel Publishing House. ISBN 978-978-34273-0-3.
- ^ "Nigeria: Pyrates Confraternity, including whether Wole Soyinka founded it, whether it continues to exist today, the reason for the name and whether membership in the fraternity now would be problematic (1950 to present)". Research Directorate, Immigration. Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. 1 May 1998. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ^ a b "National Association of Seadogs". Wole Soyinka Lectures. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- ^ "Privacy Policy". National Association of Seadogs. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ a b "Skull & Cross Bones". National Association of Seadogs. Retrieved 2024-09-28.
- ^ a b c "Skull & Cross Bones". National Association of Seadogs. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "Structure of NAS". National Association of Seadogs. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
- ^ Williams, Sean (September 2019). "The Black Axe: How a pan-African freedom movement lost its way". Harper's Magazine. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
- ^ Kelvin Keez (15 May 2013). "Top 7 Confraternities in Nigeria and their History". Imongo. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
Further reading
[edit]- Wole, Soyinka (2005). Interventions III: Cults: a people in denial. Book Craft. ISBN 9789782030559. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- Emma Osonna, Oguala Ugwulebo (1 January 1999). Campus Cults: The Scourge of Our Time. Springfield Publishers. ISBN 9789788001256. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
- Osagie, Johnson (2004). Secret cultism in Nigerian school. Hope Development and Resource Centre. p. 16. ISBN 9789783679795. Retrieved 2 August 2015.