By Isaiah Eka
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), Akwa Ibom Directorate, has kicked off a nationwide sensitisation aimed at promoting national rebirth, building an orderly and prosperous nation.
The campaign focuses on five key areas including; value reorientation against sign-out extreme practices, flood mitigation, security awareness campaign, promotion government policies, programmes and activities as well as national identity project and restoration of national symbols
The Director General of NOA, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, disclosed this while addressing a press conference in Uyo on Wednesday.
Issa-Onilu said the campaign would address the trend of students signing out of graduation practices, which has become increasingly prevalent and is considered against the culture of decency, projecting a bad image of the country abroad, and having negative implications on family economy.
The DG, represented by the National Director, Community Safety, Awareness and Compliance, Mrs Tessy Nnalue, emphasized on the importance of proper drainage systems to mitigate flooding.
He urged the public to heed advisories from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) to prevent devastating floods.
“Poor drainage system and careless dumping of waste in drainage systems have often resulted in floods in various States of the Federation. We have seen devastating results recently in Kogi, Rivers, Anambra, Bayelsa, etc.
“Many States have suffered severe flood effects over the years. NiMet issues regular early warning advisories with 90 per cent accuracy. We urge members of the public to look out for these advisories from NiMet and to please adhere to their advisories,” he said.
Issa-Onilu highlighted the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda for security architecture, including; the formation of specialised units, deployment of drones and armoured vehicles, and engagement with traditional and religious leaders.
He reminded of the importance of respecting national symbols, such as the national flag, naira, Nigerian international passport, national anthem and the coat of arms, which embody the nation’s spirit, history and values.
The DG said that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF) both schemes ensure that no Nigerian person, who is qualified for tertiary education was prevented from doing so, as a result of inability to pay school fees or to start up a business.
“As we speak about 600, 000 students have been on-boarded and over N59 billion disbursed, while over 150, 000 youths across the country have been supported with over N110 billion,” he said.
In his remarks, the Zonal Director, South South Zone, Mr Ibor Otu, said that national symbols were more than just icons.
Otu urged Nigerians to respect the national symbols as they were the embodiment of a nation’s spirit, history and values.
“Respecting these symbols fosters unity, pride, and a deeper appreciation of a nation’s heritage and that the national symbols serve as powerful representations of a country’s identity, history and values,” he said.
Mr Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, State Director of NOA, Akwa Ibom Directorate, said that recently the trend of students signing out of graduation practice has become increasingly prevalent.
He said, “While the practice may initially seem harmless, it harbours significant negative implications for both individuals and society at large and that it is against our culture of decency, projecting our country’s image in bad light abroad as well as having negative implications.”
