LAFIA – The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has cautioned tertiary institution students in the country to prioritise their safety and desist from reckless sign-out celebrations.
Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, Director General (DG) of the Agency made the call at the inauguration of a nationwide enlightenment campaign on Thursday in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
The DG was represented by Mrs Rhoda Istifanus-Sadus, Deputy Director Civil, Values, Democracy and Education at the NOA Headquarters.
Issa-Onilu said that sign-out celebrations had led to avoidable accidents and anti social activities that were not allowed in the schools and society.
He advised students to rather focus more on better academic performance, and good characters so as to leave behind memories they would be proud of in future.
The DG emphasised that the agency had several mandates including promoting positive values and behaviors among young people, and sensitising the public on government policies, programmes and activities.
He noted that values were essential for the country’s development and urged students to be role models in their communities as well as good ambassadors of their various institutions.
He further explained that the President Bola Tinubu administration had initiated so many laudable programmes aimed at improving the lives of the people, especially the vulnerable groups.
The NOA DG listed some of the programmes to include; Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Social Safety Nets Expansion, Renewed Hope Infrastructural Fund, National Youth Investment Fund among others.
He explained that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund was established to ensure that no Nigerian qualified for admission into tertiary institution was denied due to poverty.
“Already, over N59 billion had been disbursed to over 600, 000 beneficiaries of the scheme in various public institutions in country.
“Gone are the days when Nigerians cannot acquire education at the tertiary institutions. Those still complaining about lack of money should take advantage of this programme and empower themselves,” he said.
The DG also emphasised the need for Nigerians to respect the national symbols such as the flag, Naira, National anthem and pledge.
He urged citizens to support the agency in reorienting those in the habit of abusing the country’s national symbols.
In his remarks, Mr Augustine Akwe-Doma, Nasarawa State Director of NOA said the agency would replicate the campaign in all the 13 Local Government Areas of the state.
He added that the agency was partnering the traditional council in the state to organise town hall meetings with other stakeholders on value reorientation.
He therefore, urged the public to guard against extremism and respect the culture, traditional and religion of each other in the interest of peace and unity of the state and the country.
