The National Association of Seadogs is the oldest confraternity group in Nigeria after it was founded in 1952.
The National Association of Seadogs, popularly known as Pyrate Confraternity is a confraternity organization in Nigeria that is norminally University-based.[1] The group was founded in 1952 by seven pioneer members called the "Magnificent Seven". The confraternity was created with the aim of fighting for human rights and social justice in Nigeria after citing tribalism, corruption and religious differences as threats to the society.[2]
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.[3] The pioneering members of the confraternity were made up of renowned Nobel Prize in Literature laureate Wole Soyinka, Ralph Opara, Pius Oleghe, Ikpehare Aig-Imoukhuede, Nathaniel Oyelola, Olumuyiwa Awe and Sylvanus U. Egbuche who adopted the name "Magnificient 7".[4] Membership was open to students who were bright academically regardless of their tribe or religion. For almost 20 years, the Pyrates were the only confraternity on Nigerian campuses thus making it the oldest confraternity in the country.[5]
Since one of the tenents of the confraternity was for members to be the best in their education pursuit, some members who struggled to live up to the task left to form rival confraternities like the Buccaneers Confraternity and the Eye Confraternity thus leading to societal violence including the famous Operation Wetie in 1965.[6]
Presently, the Pyrate confraternity is present in all 36 states in Nigeria and also has branches in some parts of the world including the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, Holland, Japan, Canada and the United States.[7] Some sinister confraternities have been formed to copy the Pyrate confraternity which led the Pyrate confraternity to dissociate itself from these "smaller cults" and also operate outside university campuses.[5]
The confraternity is also presently seen as a "political opponent" after several members in Port Harcourt where detained in jail for participating in an election boycott campaign in 1997. To date, over 25,000 people have belonged to the organization at various stages.[8]
Signs and symbols
The Pyrate Confraternity is a registerd organization after it was formally 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".[9]
The "Skull and Bones" is the choice logo of the Pyrate confraternity made by the Magnificient 7. Colored in red, black and yellow; the logo consists of a human skull and two cross bones thus injecting the perception of seeing its members as men of danger. Members are known as "Ahoy" and "PC".[10]
Brief sayings
The watchword of the Pyrate confraternity is centred on discipline. There are brief sayings and slangs associated with the organization as a sign of respect or greeting. These saying include: Odas in Odas, No Friend No Foe, Absoulte No Lagging, etc.[10]
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