By Abbas Bamalli
The National Orientation Agency (NOA), has unveiled strategies to address the disturbing issue of extreme students’ graduation ceremonies by secondary school students and tertiary institutions in Katsina.
The NOA Director-General, Mr Lanre Issa-Onilu, revealed this while addressing journalists in Katsina on Tuesday, to flag-off campaign on the Federal Government’s policies.
The News Agency of Nigeria NAN) reports that Issa-Onilu, was represented at the event by Mr John Bala, the Director, Reform Coordination and Service at the NOA headquarters, Abuja.
“The agency is focusing on national value re-orientation campaigns and sensitisation against extreme graduation practices which do not align with our values.
“During graduation ceremonies, students even try to force their parents to contribute money and some of these students go extra miles against our noble norms.
“You’ll see some even going naked, drinking alcohol, cigarettes, some are even cutting themselves, all in the name of graduation.
“Therefore, we feel this is contrary to our noble values of discipline and honesty. So, we feel we should carry this campaign so that we educate not only parents but also schools,” he said.
The director-general identified other areas of the campaign to include; the Nigerian Identity and National Symbols sensitisation, aimed at familiarising the public with the current National Anthem, unity and patriotism.
“These campaigns will also promote adherence to right attitude towards National Symbols: the National Flag, the Naira, the Nigerian Passport among other things.
“The campaigns will be carried out through press conferences, town hall meetings, advocacy visits, visitation to schools, traditional rulers, motor parks and markets.
“Campaign will be conducted in the 36 states of the federation, FCT and 774 Local Government Areas (LGA) across Nigeria,” Issa-Onilu revealed.
The D-G explained that in recent times, the agency had expanded its messaging platforms to meet the diverse requirements of their equally diverse audience demography.
He stated that this approach in various communities was aimed at enabling members of the public to speak their minds to government, ask questions and get answers on programmes and policies of government that require further clarity.
“In this third quarter nationwide sensitisation exercise, we shall be engaging the public to further understand policies of government, especially government students’ loan (NELFUND), and Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT).
“Other areas include; National Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Flooding and Disaster Preparedness, National Security Awareness, and Presidential Flood Mitigation,” he said.