The Oyo State Director of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Dr Olukemi Afolayan has revealed that the agency is the least funded government owned organization in the country.
She was, however, optimistic that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration will allocate more funds for the smooth running of the agency in order for it to carry out its constitutionally assigned roles.
The Oyo State NOA boss made these submissions while featuring on our weekly radio show, ‘Parrot Xtra/Ayekooto on Radio’ anchored by Olayinka Agboola and broadcast live on Splash 105.5FM, Felele Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State recently.
Speaking on the functions of the agency, “We mobilize Nigerians to support government programs and activities and further give the government feedback on citizens’ reactions. The government has been responsive to the feedback we give them, though the needs are enormous”.
She added, “I agree that we should have leaders who understand what the citizens are going through. Also, the citizens must trust and believe in their leaders and not shy away from exercising their civic rights during elections especially.
“Not all the blame should go to the President, sometimes as social mobilizers, we find it difficult to mobilize citizens to register before elections and vote during elections. I believe President Bola Tinubu means well for us. I will use this opportunity to implore Nigerians to be patient with his administration”.
While speaking about NOA’s feedback mechanism, Dr Afolayan revealed that the agency was able to convince the presidency from the feedback loop gathered that Nigerians are tired of old politicians who have little or nothing to contribute to governance.
She further added that the present administration is dominated by youths who are educated; stating that the new appointees of the federal government will contribute immensely to the growth of the country’s economy.
Speaking on the strategies adopted by the organization to re-orientate Nigerians, “Through the concerted effort of our planning, research and strategy department, we have a program that focuses on the attitudinal orientation of Nigerians such as ‘Do the right the right thing and transform Nigeria’ which is aimed at restoring positive values among the citizens.
She added that the agency has been able to collaborate with stakeholders such as religious leaders, traditional leaders, professional leaders, civil societies and opinion leaders on the need to do the right thing so as to transform the country.
The NOA boss added that the agency has been able to establish an integrity club in over 67 secondary schools across the state on the need to acquaint students with core national values while urging parents to complement the efforts of the organization by educating their children on important core values of honesty and hard work.
She further reiterated that the newly appointed Director General of the commission, Lanre Isa-Onilu will work to improve the image of the organization while affirming that the current crop of staff members of the agency are committed and patriotic citizens.
She affirmed that NOA is working in collaboration with other governmental agencies to promote attitudinal change among civil and public servants, explaining that the agency has never relented in its efforts of engaging the leadership of the road transport union on the need for their members to be patriotic and law-abiding.
Recalling the achievements of NOA in Oyo State, “Some years ago, Oyo state was associated with electoral and political violence during elections, but through our campaign, ‘say no to violence’, the recently concluded election in the state was peaceful and we were able to mobilize citizens to vote peacefully”.
Afolayan, however, pleaded for more support from well-meaning citizens and governmental organizations in the country while affirming that the agency will continue to do the needful in ensuring that Nigeria is a better place to live in.
Packaged by Dare Raji and Boluwatife Bamidele
