Prof. Florence Banku Obi, Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, has been formally invested as the Cross River State Patron of the Boys’ Brigade, Nigeria. The investiture ceremony took place at the Duke Town Presbyterian Church in Calabar. 
The Boys’ Brigade is the foremost and largest international, interdenominational, voluntary, uniformed, Christian Youth Organization for the Boys between 5 – 19 years. It was founded by Sir William Alexander Smith and formally launched on 4 October, 1883 in Glasgow, Scotland. It was founded to serve two main purposes; the first is Religion and the second Discipline.
The Boys’ Brigade, was established in Nigeria in the year 1908 and arrived the present Cross River State on 25 October, 1934 through the 1st Calabar Company attached to the Holy Trinity Anglican Church (now Cathedral of the Holy Trinity Anglican Communion), 81 Calabar Road.
The main aim of the Boys’ Brigade is the advancement of Christ’s kingdom among boys and the promotion of habits of obedience, reverence, discipline, self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian. This also involves character training, encouraging a decision for Christ, and promoting church membership.
In her acceptance speech, the Golden Vice Chancellor appreciated the President and all the executives of the Brigade in Calabar for the honour placed on her.
She said that building the younger generation requires discipline and absolute character training, hence she pledged to join hands with the Brigade in ensuring that discipline is instilled among the youth, not just in the church or in the institution, but the larger society.
Some of the officials who spoke at the event, congratulated the VC for the honour, thereby counting on her support towards the advancement of the Brigade.
