Nigeria’s Marlies Allan emerges first African president of OB-PS

Olave Baden-Powell Society (OB-PS), an organization renowned across the world for its support of Girls’ Guide and Girls’ Scout, has appointed a Nigerian, Chief Marlies Allan, as the world president of the society.

The appointment took place during the group’s 55th Board of Directors meeting held recently in Pune, India. This is the first time in the history of the society that an African will be occupying the prestigious position.

Allan, a lawyer specialising in Intellectual Property and Commercial Law, is the managing partner and co-founder of Allan and Ogunleye Law Firm, which was established in Lagos in 1981. She is also a centurion and a global supporter of the society, and has sponsored five young Nigerians as young supporters of OB-PS.

She is the former president of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), and International Women’s Society (IWS) and is now a trustee of IWS.

She was the Honourable Consul of Switzerland from 2004 to 2015, and was also on the Board of Trustees of Atlantic Hall School. She has also held other reputable positions both in the private and public sectors.

Presently on the board of the OB-PS are other Nigerians, namely: Lady Jibowu, the first Nigerian to join the society in 1986 and Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who was the first Nigerian on the society’s board.

The current board is, however, made up of members from the United States, Australia, Finland, Denmark, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea, Switzerland and Nigeria respectively.

OB-PS is an international society established to support the work of World Association of Girls’ Guide and Girls’ Scout (WAGGGS), by providing core funding for the works of WAGGGS.

The society supports the association to enable girls and young women develop their potentials as responsible citizens of the world.It also inspires generosity and sustained financial support from individuals, who have knowledge and responsibility for the advancement of girls and young women through the Girls’ Guild and Girls’ Scout Movement.

The vision is to grow a worldwide network of caring and influential women and men dedicated to issues of girl-child globally.
The society has its headquarters in London and is named after the founder of Scouting and Girls’ Guide.