Religious bodies and social institutions have been urged to establish voluntary organisations in schools.

Chairman, Ijebu East Local Government Council, Ogun State, Ambassado r Tunde Oladunjoye, made the plea when he spoke at the Freeman Methodist Church Cathedral, Abeokuta, during the matriculation of the new intakes into the Boys/Girls Brigade.

This, he said, would help reduce the high rate of crime and indecent behaviour among the youths.

Oladunjoye lamented the near absence of voluntary organisations, such as the Boys’ Brigade, Girls’ Brigade, Boys’ Scout and Red Cross Society, among others.

He spoke of the good old days when such organisations were not only in the schools but were involved in social, cultural and literary activities.

"Those days were the golden era of Nigerian youths. They were well-behaved and were pride to their parents and society," he said.

Oladunjoye urged leaders and public office holders to provide an enabling environment for the smooth operations of voluntary organisations, adding: "Their revival is non-negotiable if we are sincere about re-branding the "Nigerian Project".

He hoped that the revival of the organisations in our schools will help banish negative tendencies, such as thuggery, cultism, armed robbery and examination malpractices, among others.