Brief History of LPC Boys' Brigade
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Brief History of Lagos Presbyterian Church Boys' Brigade (BBN)
The Genesis and Formation Stage - 1982
The journey of the Boys’ Brigade at the Lagos Presbyterian Church, Yaba, began in 1982 when the Minister-in-Charge, Rev. Dr. Ude, sought to establish a company in the parish. A chance meeting with Bro. Uche Ottah (now Elder Uche Mark Ottah), who was then attending meetings at Horse Memorial Methodist Church, set the plan in motion.
Despite early leadership transitions—including the mobilization efforts of Sis. Comfort Emeaba and the brief volunteer leadership of a police officer, Mr. Umaghi, who was transferred out of Lagos—a pivotal meeting was held among key stakeholders. It was ultimately agreed that Bro. Uche Ottah, being the most senior officer, would take over the leadership of the emerging, prospective company.
Official Recognition, Registration, and First Patron Induction (1984–1986)
In 1984, under the leadership of the new Minister-in-Charge, Rev. Dr. James Ukaegbu, the growing Boys’ Brigade was formally inaugurated as a church organization. The parish formally requested recognition from the Lagos State Council, achieving the status of a “Proposed Company” monitored by visiting officers.
By 1986, the group was officially registered by the State Council as the 40th Lagos Company under the singular Lagos Battalion Council. This milestone year featured the company’s first-ever Enrolment Service, the purchase of its first ceremonial maze from Ibadan for ₦1,000.00, and the official induction of its first three patrons: Elder U. Ukoha, Elder Oriaku Uduma, and Sis. Comfort Emeaba.
Structural Reorganization and Renumbering (1995)
A major administrative shift occurred in 1995 when the Lagos Battalion Council restructured its operations into Local Government Battalions. This overhaul led to the creation of the Mainland/Surulere Battalion Council, which was later split into two independent bodies that same year.
Because the company fell geographically under the newly independent Mainland Battalion Council, its original designation was changed, and the 40th Lagos Company was formally renumbered and renamed the 11th Mainland Company
Silver Jubilee Celebration and Leadership Transition (2010–2013)
The company celebrated its historic 25th Anniversary (Silver Jubilee) on Sunday, 12th September 2010, boasting 27 active patrons and an unblemished record of hosting its annual Enrolment Service every year since registration. The landmark celebration included an educational excursion to the Slave Trade Village in Badagry, an Award and Gala Night, and special recognition for its numerous supporters.
A few years later, in 2013, long-term leadership shifted when Elder Uche Mark Ottah stepped down after serving as captain for roughly 30 years, officially handing the company’s leadership over to Bro. Ededet Okpo Hogan.
Achievements, Administrative Modernization, and Current Status (2026 - Present Day)
Today, the company is widely revered as the “Mother Company” of Brigade companies within the old Synod of the West of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, and it holds the distinction of being the first company in Lagos State to introduce girls into the program. Following a national delisting of non-functional units, the group was renumbered once more to its current designation, the 8th Mainland Company.
Under the current leadership of Captain Benjamin Bassey Ndiyo (STO), the modern company has stabilized its growth and administration by establishing five specialized functional committees (Enrolment, Training and Extension, Boys’ Day, Finance, and Media/Social) to drive planning, training, and communication forward.