14/09/2024
EXCERPTS OF A LECTURE DELIVERED BY MISS HIKIMA NA ALLAH ON THE ROLE OF LADY OFFICERS IN THE BOYS BRIGADE
INTRODUCTION
By default, the Junior Section and the Lady Officers were not part of the vision of the founder. It was the evolution of the Junior Section that brought about the birthing of female members as Lady Officers whose primary assignment is to take care of the Junior Section Boy.
Accordingly, the idea of having females as members of The Boys’ Brigade came as a result of the necessity to cater for the need of the Junior Section Boy. The idea then grew and over the following years, several other organizations were formed. In 1899, in England, a group called "The Boys' Life Brigade" started. Its emblem was a red cross. It was formed by one Mr. John Brown Paton who later became a Reverend/Ministers
WHO THEN ARE THE LADY OFFICERS?
LADY OFFICERS: are female officers from the age of 25years and above (The 2011 BBN Constitution as Amended. Section 8: b) who have the desire to serve in The Boys’ Brigade Ministry as leaders in the Junior Section. They can be Warrant Officer, Lieutenant or Captain.In Boys’ Brigade, Nigeria, girls/ladies who are below the age of 25years are not permitted to join The Boys’ Brigade and should not be admitted into the organization as NCOs. Lady Officers in the BB are addressed as Sir. Thus, the phrase ‘she is a Boy’ is usually used to address lady officers in The Boys’ Brigade.
LADY OFFICERS CONDUCTS AS COSTIDIANS OF THE BOY
1.Must avoid or abstain from anything that would stain the name and image of The Boys’ Brigade.
2. Must be loyal to God, The Boys’ Brigade and the Church.
3. Must maintain a good relationship with his fellow officers.
4. Must show positive interest to the activities of the Company he belongs to.
5. Must not at any time befriend or try to seduce male members of The Boys’ Brigade with negative intensions.Should render selfless service as a volunteer.
6. Must have an outstanding character at home, in the Church and the community.
7. Must give prompt obedience to his superior officer.
8. Must be financially committed to the Church and The Boys’ Brigade Company to which he belongs.
9. Must be a humble and obedient person with high sense of love and care, especially towards the Junior Section Boy.
LADY OFFICERS UNIFORM
The Holy Grail which is also the core Creed and the Scheme of The Boys’ Brigade is the advancement of Christ Kingdom among Boys and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self-Respect and all that tend towards a true Christians manliness.
Having said that, one should consciously be aware that, proper wearing of The Boys’ Brigade Uniform is advancing Christ Kingdom itself. Any member (Boy, Officer, Chaplain or Patron) of The Boys’ Brigade who does not know the acceptable and right uniform to wear, should entreat or seek the correct knowledge act properly. Doing so will aid one to shine so bright that the light cannot be hidden. (Daniel 13:3, Mathew 5:16)
There are basically two types of uniforms for The Boys’ Brigade Lady Officers.
They are; Uniform A and Uniform B.
Uniform A: is the Navy Blue Suit. It is the Officers’ Ceremonial Uniform for all Chaplains, Patrons, Lieutenants and Captains.Uniform B: is the White upon Navy Blue Trouser/Skirt. It is worn by all Field Officers – Warrant Officers (with Red Lanyard), Lieutenants (with Blue Lanyard) and Captains (with Navy Blue Lanyard).
Uniform A
-Lady officers Cap with Cap Badge.
-Navy blue suit with Trouser/Skirt a pair of Collar Badges.
-Navy blue/black neck tie.
-White long sleeve shirt.
-Black Socks
-Black Shoe
Staff of Office (for Captains only).
UNIFORM B
Glengarry Cap with Cap Badge.
- White short sleeve Shirt with two breast pockets and cover, and two shoulder flaps with button.
Landyard (Red – Warrant Officers, Blue Lieutenants, Navy Blue – Captains).
- A pair of Collar Badge.Boys’ Brigade belt.
- Navy blue Trouser/Skirt.
- Black Socks.
- Black Shoe, Staff of Office (for Captains only).
Note Well:
*Lady Officers should avoid putting on the BB uniform with coloured attachment of any kind or making hairstyles that cannot be parked well. Your hairstyle must not cover the collar of your uniform or prevent you from wearing your cap. Any dressing that is contrary, is uniform abuse.A Lady Officer that wears dangling earrings, puts on obvious red lip-stick or any sort of heavy make-up when putting on uniform is doing the wrong thing.It is improper for a Lady Officer to wear short or skimpy skirt with long open slits. Such dressing is not moderate. It passes a wrong message about our dear organization; The Boys’ Brigade.*
DUTIES OF THE LADY OFFICER'S
Every Lady Officer of The Boys’ Brigade must first realize that, they are appointed to be responsible to their Call to Serve God and the Boy.Below are the responsibilities/duties of a Lady Officer:
A. Every Lady Officer should recognize constantly the authority of the Church and the Company in which they are serving as leaders.
B. Lady Officers should have good communication skills for effective coaching in the children ministry; especially the Junior Section.
C. Lady Officers should co-operate with the Church and members of The Boys’ Brigade to ensure Christian Education is served as good food for the spiritual growth of the Boy.
D. Lady Officers should enroll in leadership training programmes of The Boys’ Brigade and other Children Ministries in order to gain the needed knowledge and develop their capacity to properly handle the Boy as they help him grow into the man the organization desire them to be.
E. Lady Officers are expected to play the role of mothers with Hearts of Gold. They should at all times to love, care and guide the Boys of the Junior Section as a mother hen broods over her chicks.
CONCLUSION
In other to get it right, we must enroll female members who are purpose driven not gender or self-driven. We must understand that the purpose of having a Lady Officer is to take care of the Junior Section Boys. We must therefore, allow Christ to take the lead as the head of our organization, rely on the Holy Spirit (not self) for direction and ask Him (Jesus) to steer our organization as the Captain of our soul.
God bless our services as SERVANT LEADERS of this great organization in Jesus name, Amen.
