National Association of Seadogs

The National Association of Seadogs, popularly known as the Pyrates Confraternity, is a confraternity organization in Nigeria that is nominally University-based.^[1] The group was founded by Professor Wole Soyinka and six students in 1952 to support human rights and social justice in Nigeria.^[1]

National Association of Seadogs
NAS
Founded	October 1952; 72 years ago (October 1952) University College, Ibadan
Type	Nigerian Confraternity
Affiliation	Independent
Status	Active
Scope	International
Motto	"Against all moribund conventions"
Colors	White,   Red, and   Black
Symbol	Skull & Cross Bones
Members	25,000+ lifetime
Nickname	Seadogs, Saylors
Headquarters	Plot 55, Gado Nasko Road Kubwa, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory Nigeria
Website	www.nas-int.org

History

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.^[2] It was founded in 1952 by seven friends who adopted the name "Magnificent 7".^[3] The Magnificent 7 are:^[3]

• Ikpehare Aig-Imoukhuede
• Olumuyiwa Awe
• Sylvanus U. Egbuche
• Pius Oleghe
• Nathaniel Oyelola
• Ralph Opara
• Wole Soyinka

The Pyrates Confraternity went on to become the only confraternity on Nigerian campuses for almost twenty years.^[4] Membership into the confraternity was open to students who were bright academically regardless of their tribe or religion.^[5] To date, over 25,000 people have belonged to the organization at various stages.^[6]

The Pyrates Confraternity was 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".^[7] Its headquarters are at Plot 55, Gado Nasko Road in Kubwa, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria.^[8]

Symbols

The Pyrates logo is the Skull and Bones in red, black, and yellow.^[9] Members are known as Seadogs and Saylors.^[10] Its motto is "Against all moribund conventions". The organization has several sayings used as a sign of respect or greeting, including "Odas is Odas" ("Orders is Orders"), "No Friend No Foe", and "Absolutely No Lagging".^[10][9] Members are known as Seadogs and Saylors.^[10]

Wole Soyinka, a founding member of the Pyrates

Chapters

Pyrates has branches throughout Nigeria and in Australia, Canada, Japan, Netherlands, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.^[7][11]

Notable members

• Wole Soyinka, awarded the 1986 Nobel Prize in Literature^[12]

Controversies and member misconduct

Some sinister confraternities have been formed to copy the Pyrates confraternity which led the Pyrates confraternity to dissociate itself from these organizations and also operate outside university campuses.^[13] The confraternity is also seen as a "political opponent" after several members in Port Harcourt were detained in jail for participating in the disruption of election campaigns in 1997.